More MPs with sleepless nights exposed

By Second Opinion Investigation Team

More names of Members of Parliament (MPs) whose
constituencies are at risk of slipping through their hands, have
continued to surface.

In continuation of our serialization, The Second Opinion brings
our readers more names of people who want the incumbent
legislators to pack up.

Major Jessica Alupo Vs Violet Akurut

Katakwi woman MP seat is currently in the hands of Violet
Akurut who defeated former education minister Major (rtd)
Jessica Alupo in the National Resistance Movement (NRM)
primaries. However, the voters in Katakwi are reportedly
regretting their decision to settle for Akurut, saying they were
duped by the ‘Teso Mafia’.

“The mafia has failed to rise to the occasion.  It’s against that
background that we regret our actions and have unanimously
decided to rescind our decision. Alupo will get back to
Parliament come what may.  Her victory is already served on a
silver platter. We are just waiting for blessings from God on
voting day and the party begins. We call her Maj. Ajele in
Ameritele village and other surrounding environs. Incumbent
Violet Akurt has an uphill task to play if she is surely to retain
her seat. Things are not goodoo!” says Michael Okurut, an
opposition activist.

Peter Mashate, Yahaya Gudoi and Gershom Wambedde

The battle for the NRM MP Flag Bearer in Bungokho North
Constituency is truly between the two old NRM foes:  Peter
Mashate and Yahaya Gudoi, an MP in the 9 th Parliament who
was defeated by FDC’s Gershom Sizomu.

Gudoi comes from Bufumbo and Mashate comes from
Nakaloke Sub County.

There are 12 sub counties in Bungokho North constituency, and
Mashate comes from Nakaloke while Gudoi hails from
Bufumbo.

However, available information suggests that Mashate is
currently more popular with the voters of Wanale and Budwale
sub counties courtesy of donating land and construction of a
health center which eased safe-mother deliveries.

“Nakaloke, Namabasa and Namanyoyi are very populated and if
combined, they constitute more voters than the rest of the
seven sub counties. These densely populated cub-counties are
multi-ethnic with a composition of Baganda, Banyole, Bagwere,
Itesot, Bagisu and other tribes,” and Mashate is revered in
those places,” a political activist conversant with politics in the
area said.

According to the activist, Mashate is also involved in many
youth income generating projects such as brick-making, poultry
projects and the provision of seedlings, all geared towards
poverty alleviation among youth.
 
Philbert Ocailap Vs Peter Ogwang

Philbert Ocailap is the former RDC for Katakwi district and also
Soroti district. He has reportedly perfected the politics of
mobilization and his prime target is Peter Ogwang, the Usuk
county MP, who also hails from Katakwi.

Ogwang, who is currently a Parliamentary Commissioner, got
an easy ride to Parliament in 2016 after then area MP Proscovia
Alengot abandoned the seat, and left for the US for ‘kyeyo’.

Sources suggest that the main issue affecting Usuk is lack of
jobs for the youth and lack of farm tools. The same sources also
say that the recent donation of a tractor by the President to
Usuk County has not helped the situation as most locals cannot
afford fuel to use it and yet their expectation from the area
MPs to provide fuel hasn’t materialized.

“Most voters now prefer that the tractor be taken back and
instead they are given hand-hoes and ox ploughs,” the sources
said.

Lydia Wanyoto Vs Connie Nakayenze Galiwango

Lydia Wanyoto, the chairperson of the NRM women’s league,
has put incumbent Mbale Woman MP Connie Nakayenze
Ggaliwango on tenterhooks.
Nakayenze opposed the lifting of the presidential age limit and
has recently asked the state to provide her with protection
after unknown people dropped threatening leaflets at her
home.
But pundits say Wanyoto, who is also a board member of the
National Planning Authority, is likely to be boosted by the

credentials of her late husband, former Trade State Minister
James Mutende Shinyabulo, who was a renowned political in
Mbale.
However, according to available information, the soft-spoken
Nakayenze, wife of NRM stalwart Hassan Galiwango, the
Director of Finance and Administration at the NRM Secretariat,
is not yet down.

Mukasa Mbidde Vs Mathias Mpuuga

The Masaka Municipality MP is opposition-leaning Mathias
Mpuuga Nsamba, and sources say he faces stiff challenge from
within his own opposition Democratic Party, coming in the
names of Fred Mukasa Mbidde, the DP Vice President.
Mpuuga, who is reportedly still politically-strong, also faces
challenge from NRM’s Herman Sentongo, the current Resident
District Commissioner (RDC) of Masaka.

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