EALA's Namara, seven others to wrestle Tinkansimire in Buyaga

Eight candidates have expressed interest in unseating outspoken Barnabas Tinkasimire from Buyaga County, saying he has not meet the expectations of voters anymore.

Tinkansimire has been MP for 20 years but East African Legislative Assembly MP Denis Namal, and two executive officers for civil society organisations say his time is up.

However, Tinkansimire has warned that he will still be in parliament by 2026 as a true representative of Buyaga West voices.

He said the aspirants should not spend their money on a losing battle because he is sure to win.

Buyaga West constituency in Kagadi has 19 sub counties, 56 parishes and 374 villages with an estimated voting population of 100,000 people.

For the last close to 20 years, this constituency has been represented by one person and that is Barnabas Tinkasimire, whose first term in parliament was when he defeated Ignatius Besisira when Buyaga was still in Greater Kibaale.

As the political season is around the corner with less than a year into the NRM primaries, eight candidates have shown interest for the seat.

Among them include Namara whose tenure as member of the East African parliament ends this term, James Byarugaba, the executive director of Youth Alive Uganda and Patriotic League of Uganda coordinator for Kagadi.

Others are Benda Guard Ntegyerize, country director of World Voices Uganda, Dr John Habasa, a lecturer at Kyambogo University, and Dr John Byamugisha, an educationist.

Byarugaba said Tinkansimire's time is up, accusing the incumbent of not lobbying for his people rather all the time opposing the government.

"Barnabas has been here for all that time, but look at health centers, roads, water all in bad state, we need someone who is able to seat with government and lobby for the betterment of the people not someone who abuses and insults," Byarugaba said.

Ntegyerize credits Tinkansimire with raising the voices of the people but says what he has not achieved may never be achieved.

"For people that do soccer can tell, there is always that good season for the players, he achieves but there comes a time when he can't deliver, he has to be replaced and bring a new star on the pitch," he said.

"Barnabas' time is up, it's time to have a new star on the pitch who will steer Buyaga West to another level."

Peter Junior Katusabe, a political commentator in Kagadi, said Tinkansimire rode on two factors; tribal and fighting for land rights but that the issues have since been settled.

"Barnabas came at a time when there was a lot of tribal sentiments between Banyoro and "Bafukuruki" immigrants, but now there is been a lot of inter-marriages," he said.

"The King of Bunyoro has embraced us, but also most of the candidates have shown interest to stand at immigrants, but also land grabbing, these acts continue," Katusabe said.

Dr Mwalimu Musheshe, a political scholar, advises people who intend to stand against Tinkasimire to play their cards right or else they will be disappointed.

"You see Barnabas is not an easy man, many of these have stood with him and lost, maybe Byarugaba, and Benda, but he is a man who is always on the ground, and most of these people come and go only turn up during election period," he said.

"Tinkasimire, besides being outspoken, he is still a darling to the population, but I hear some people say he has concentrated on national issues compared to his constituency."

Meanwhile, Tinkasimire laughed off his potential challengers, advising them to come prepared they will end up being embarrassed.

"I have heard many are coming to unseat me, for starters let me make it clear, in 2026 I must be in parliament, so I'm only advising them to come slow because the people of Buyaga West need my representation," he said.

"For a long time Bunyoro did not have a sound man like me, do you think Buyaga West people will accept to lose me? They better concentrate on other things."

Tinkasimire warned that while many have come with a lot of money whose sources are questionable, he advises them to spend carefully or else they may come out of the election season in financial woes.

"It's not yet even election time but people are spending money telling people to vote for them on burials, graduations and weddings," he said.

Tinkasimire maintains he has done a lot for his people especially fighting for land rights, extension of power, improvement on the road network, things he advocates for with passion and sometimes mistaken to be rude but it's for the better of his people.