By Andrew Irumba
Five candidates have successfully been nominated to contest in the Bugiri Municipality MP elections slated for July 10th.
The candidates are John Francis Oketcho (NRM), Eunice Namatende (FDC), Asuman Basalirwa (JEEMA), Hajji Siraji Lyavala Samanya (Former LCV Chairman Bugiri District) and Joel Wamono, both Independents.
The nominations were held at the District Headquarters and presided over by the district Electoral Commission registrar, Christine Kunihira.
The exercise was however momentarily interrupted when the Kyadondo East legislator, Robert Sentamu Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine arrived at the nomination center accompanied by Basalirwa, thereby causing prolonged ululations by Basalirwa’s mammoth crowds that accompanied them but waited outside.
This prompted the police officer-in-charge of Bugiri police station, Godfrey Musimami, to instruct the EC officials to first nominate Basalirwa before the situation could run out of hands.
Mr Basalirwa was nominated at about 2:30 pm and Bobi Wine immediately urged residents to vote for a candidate of integrity who would improve on the economy of the country.
“Some Ugandans are poor due to corruption amongst the leaders in the country and there is need for people like Basalirwa to advocate for the needy,” he said.
Basalirwa pledged to attract investors who will set up factories in the area and provide employment to the many unemployed youth.
Basalirwa, a hitherto very close ally of Dr.Kizza Besigye,FDC and entire opposition fraternity decided to face-off with FDC’s Eunice Namatende following a fall-out between JEEMA and FDC on the possibility of fronting a joint candidate. Dr.Besigye and other FDc leaders spent a better part of today canvassing support for their candidate whereas Bobi Wine was also in the same area canvassing support for Basalirwa.
“Nothing can stop the power of the people from deciding how they should be led,” Bobi Wine said when asked for his comment.
He describing Basalirwa’s procession from nomination as ‘massive’.
