Katabi Mayoral Flop vows to unseat  MP Matovu

Entebbe

The Katabi Town Council mayoral flop, Tom Byarugaba has vowed to unseat the incumbent Legislator for Busiro South Constituency, Hon. Charles Matovu whom he says has not delivered to the expectations of the electorate.  Byarugaba, who lost in the 2021 mayoral elections to Mayor Ronald Kalema Basamulekele, thinks that he is the right person to represent the people of Busiro South constituency in Wakiso district. Byarugaba who was also nabbed red handed with pre-ticked ballot papers in the 2021 elections, says this time round he is determined to win the 2026 parliamentary elections genuinely.  During an interview with this reporter on March 31, 2025, he recounted his political journey and revealed the gaps he intends to address once elected Busiro south constituency legislator.

Byarugaba’s political journey:

‘I started my political journey while a student at Mengo secondary school in the early 1990s. In 1993, I joined Makerere High school and vied for the post of student councilor which I won. In 1995, I joined Nkumba University and I was elected the first University Guild General secretary. During the 1996 presidential elections, I organized for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to campaign in Nkumba University and this was my first time to meet him.

‘After 1996 general elections, the president invited me and other guild presidents to his home in Rwakitura and lectured us on NRM ideologies. The acquired knowledge helped me to love the ruling party more than before and that is the reason why I campaign for all party flag bearers in Entebbe and beyond.

‘In 2001, we founded NRM Movement group at Entebbe International Airport, and it is this pressure group that delivered the former Entebbe Municipality Legislator Rosemary Tumusiime to parliament in the 2016 parliamentary polls.

‘ In 2021 polls, I stood for Katabi Town Council mayorship on NRM party ticket but sadly I miserably lost to NUP’s Ronald Kalema Basamulekele who was favored by the political wave that saw most NRM candidates in the Central region lose the 2021 general elections.  However, the good news I have got is that my political opponent in the 2021 mayoral elections has lost trust in his party and I hear NUP leadership has finalized plans to hand the party flag to Journalist George William Kakooza.

‘ As part of preparations for 2026 polls, I recently enrolled for a four-month leadership course in China which I successfully completed and I believe that the knowledge I acquired will enable me to outcompete my political rivals in the parliamentary race , ‘ Mr. Byarugaba explained .

Why Iam standing for MP?

‘I realized the incumbent Busiro south Legislator Charles Matovu has not delivered to his expectations and therefore a lot of things need to be fixed so as to bring services closer to the electorate. Before I get the party ticket, I have to first defeat my fellow party contesters in the party primaries.  In order to be very visible on the ground, I have traversed all the four town councils within Busiro South constituency, and the voters now know me very well. During my tour, I discovered a lot is lacking within the four town councils that include Kasanjje, Busi, Katabi and Kajjansi town council.

‘Kasanjje and Busi town Council are typical villages and I hope to upgrade them to urban status.  I discovered most people in these two town councils still practice subsistence farming but when I take over leadership I will transform them so that they transition to commercial agriculture by changing their mindset.

‘I have realized there is a big gap between our elected leaders and the people they represent. For instance elected leaders  return to communities for burial and thereafter disappear for months till another person dies in the constituency . So, I’m looking at addressing this problem by being closer to the electorate.

“The Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) is in Entebbe but people in Entebbe have never benefited from the ministry. The last time I attended a meeting at Wakiso district headquarters, I was shocked to hear we have a district agriculture officer, forest officer and environment officer but all these officials have done nothing on ground but every day they report to office for work and the best they do is to sit at the town council and gossip throughout the day in addition to chasing dirty deals yet the government pays them a monthly salary.’

On the education part:” Most of the UPE schools in Katabi Town council are in bad condition and need serious renovation. When I’m elected the area legislator, I will ensure each sub county gets four modern government schools which can compete favorably with private schools. I support head-teachers who charge school fees in UPE schools because these schools need money to renovate them in addition to buying scholastic materials, ‘MP hopeful Byarugaba said.

Regarding the impending NRM party primaries Byarugaba said: “Iam already facing competition from my fellow party candidates. But what I can assure you, the people of Busiro south constituency know my potential, I have worked for them and I have no doubt they will entrust me with the party flag.  The voters in Busiro south have tested the bad leadership of Hon.  Charles Matovu and right now they know what they want.

‘ However, when I  lose  in the NRM party primaries , I will follow the party constitution and therefore I will have to back the party flag bearer as I wait for president Yoweri Museveni to give me another assignment if he chooses to do so.

‘For sure, the opposition has not delivered in Busiro south constituency. They have nothing to show on the ground that they have delivered. Their supporters have realized NRM has clear programs and many regret voting NUP’s Charles Matovu who has done completely nothing to his electorate.

‘I have got information that the opposition plans to rig the 2026 parliamentary elections but I assure you the election will be free and fair, “said MP hopeful Byarugaba.’