Western Region Youth MP Race heats up with 14 candidates tussling for NRM flag

As Uganda draws to the 2021 polls, the NRM party and also Uganda’s ruling party is headed for its primary elections for Members of Parliament representing special interest groups like youth, workers and people living with disabilities.

Particularly for the Youth MPs, the race has attracted 14 candidates who are all battling to take on the NRM flag and represent the western region youth in the 11th parliament of Uganda.

The western youth MP race has previously attracted sons of prominent figures including: ministers, army generals among others as witnessed in the 2016 polls where Mwine Mpaka a son to Hon. Minister Bright Rwamirama battled Amanya Tumukunde a son to the embattled former minister for security, Gen. Tumukunde who again recently fell out with the president.

The Youth MP elections have previously been characterized by violence, voter bribery and irregularities as cited in the 2011 when Dr. Aggrey Kyobuguzi and the now Ntungamo Municiparity MP, Gerald Karuhanga battled each other. The same scenarios were also witnessed in 2016.

This year’s western region youth MP NRM Primaries have become hotly contested with 14 fully nominated candidates according to the NRM Electoral Commission.

Some of the candidates in the race include Mbarara’s Patrick Mwesigye a.k.a “The Disruptor”, Ntoroko’s Rugumayo Edson also a Secretary for external relations on the national youth council, Gweni Murungi Biraro a daughter to the late. General Biraro, Fort Portal’s Tugume Ronald, Edwin Muramuzi of Shema among others.

NRM’s Primary elections for youth MPs are due Saturday 10th October 2020 at the district levels.

According to reports on ground, the race is tight between Patrick Mwesigye and Ronald Tugume, with Edson Rugumayo following the two.

Delegates sampled think Patrick Mwesigye takes the lead a score of NRM youth league college because he has demonstrated commitment and seriousness in his campaigns.

The Disruptor as he is popularly known has moved far deep in the villages reaching us delegates house to house, noted a delegate from Kisoro who preferred anonymity.

Majority of the delegates contacted have also informed us that Mwesigye “The disruptor” stands out among all candidates citing his previous experience working on adolescent and youth issues at national level under his organization Uganda Youth and Adolescents Health Forum.

“He is well versed with issues of youth development and leadership and he has demonstrated sufficient knowledge on what needs to be done to address unemployment, lack of skills and lack of capital as some of the key challenges affecting us the youth,” a Municipality youth Councilor for Ibanda District told Nile Post.

Mwesigye’s top contenders Tugume Ronald and Rugumayo Edson both from Toro Sub-Region are counting on the Rwenzori Bunyoro factor citing that Ankole has dominated the seat on the past.

However, Bunyoro and Kigezi also think that it’s their time to have a youth MP from the West since both Sub - Regions have never produced any.

Further more, delegates were seen in anticipation of money majority noting that they will only vote those who financially facilitate them as voting for districts will require one moving from their Sub-Counties to the district to cast their vote.

A delegate from Kagadi who also preferred anonymity informed us that he stays about 30k away from the district headquarters where voting will take place and requires about 60,000/= for transport too and from.

Other delegates from districts like Kisoro, Buhweju, Kabale, Kasese, Bundibujo and Ntoroko also will have to incur not less that 50,000/= worth of transport since their sub-Counties are located in very mountainous terrains with a very poor road network.