Three aspirants in early campaign to unseat Byandala

A political battle is brewing in Katikamu North constituency where three people have started early groundwork to oust the incumbent legislator Abraham Byandala.

The three are district chairman Ronald Ndawula, Denis Ssekabira, a former contestant for the Nakaseke South parliamentary seat and one Ronald Kizza Ssenyange.

They argue that Byandala has overstayed in power, is corrupt and incompetent.

Byandala is serving his third term as area MP.

But his term of office is engrossed by a court battle in which he is accused of abuse of office, causing financial loss to the government and disobeying lawful orders.

His problems stem from a directive issued while holding the portfolio of Works and Transport minister for the immediate signing of a contract between the Uganda National Roads Authority-UNRA and an American firm EUTAW Construction Co. Inc, to upgrade Mukono-Kyetume-Katosi-Nyenga road in Mukono and Buikwe Districts.

The company was later found to be a sham.

Luweero district chairman Ronald Ndawula said he wants to be in parliament in order to lobby for services like rural electrification, industrialisation, elevation of town councils to municipality status and elevation of Luweero Health Center IV to a Hospital.

Ndawula and Ssekabira have often been seen donating farm tractors, school bursaries, construction of roadside markets and roads, sponsoring electrification of markets, making cash donations and distributing calendars among other campaign activities.

Ndawula, however, said that donations are made in his capacity as district chairman.

Ndawula is backed by area councillors and LC III Chairperson led by John Paul Kibalama.

Another rival Ronald Kizza Ssenyange accused Byandala of failing to represent the views of the people of Katikamu North and instead, riding on selfish interests.

Salim Zimula the Kakabala parish councillor in Butuntumula Sub County says that MP Byandala faces an uphill task to retain the seat because the public is bitter against him over the constitutional amendments, corruption allegations and abandoning the constituency.

Deogratius Bukenya, the chairperson of Luweero Central Market Traders Association said that they have benefited in the early campaigns.

Bukenya explained that recently Ssekabira sponsored the electrification of their market prompting Byandala to respond by promising to buy the gate doors to beef up its security.

As result of the early campaigns, Byandala who had taken a back seat in the constituency has now comeback dispelling rumours that he won’t seek re-election in 2021.

Byandala described the rivals as greedy, jokers and over-ambitious.

He scoffed at them saying that they do not have the ability to sustain early campaigns.

Byandala retained the Katikamu North Parliamentary Seat in 2016 with 26,931 votes against his main challenger, DP’s Jasper Aligaweesa who got 3,943.