Minister Haruna Kasolo's struggle for political relevance across three districts

In the wake of his defeat in the 2021 general elections, Microfinance Minister Kyeyune Haruna Kasolo has been striving to redefine his political career, moving across three districts in a bid to secure a new foothold.

Kasolo, who served as the Member of Parliament for Kyotera for two terms, was unseated by the Democratic Party’s (DP) John Paul Mpalanyi, who won with a resounding 28,230 votes to Kasolo’s 20,431.

This defeat marked the beginning of Kasolo’s tumultuous journey in search of a new political home.

Following his defeat in Kyotera, Kasolo shifted his political ambitions to Masaka City, where he attempted to unseat the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Dr. Abed Bwanika in the Kimaanya-Kabonera Division. In Masaka, Kasolo opened an office in Kirimya town along the Kyotera-Masaka road.

The office became the center of his mobilization efforts, and he sought to counter Dr. Bwanika by investing heavily in the area.

Among his investments were Solo Hites, a two-star hotel, and an agro-processing factory, both aimed at showcasing his commitment to local development—a direct contrast to Bwanika, who was criticized by locals for not investing in the area.

However, after a year of intense mobilization in Masaka City, Kasolo decided to pivot once more. This time, he set his sights on Masaka District, specifically aiming to unseat DP’s Richard Ssebamala, the Member of Parliament for Bukoto Central. Ssebamala had previously defeated Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, Uganda’s former Vice President, in a surprising upset.

Kasolo’s decision to challenge Ssebamala was driven by his desire to restore the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) dominance in Bukoto Central and continue the legacy of Ssekandi.

“I have come back to bring back the glory of NRM in Bukoto Central and to extend development to our people,” Kasolo declared.

“I wouldn’t have an interest in standing as a Member of Parliament for Bukoto Central, but I have to finish the journey of our elder Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, the former Vice President, because I know people voted him out due to the political wave that was here,” Kasolo added.

In his bid for Bukoto Central, Kasolo initiated several development projects, including supporting the Masaka District local government in infrastructural development.

He took particular pride in building roads that connected various sub-counties and providing relief aid to people living along Lake Victoria’s shores, who had been displaced by rising water levels.

Despite these efforts, Kasolo’s campaign faced significant setbacks. Some of his key supporters and mobilizers began secretly shifting their allegiance to Oscar Ssekandi, the grandson of Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, while others returned to Ssebamala’s camp.

Frustrated by these developments, Kasolo summoned his mobilizers to a meeting at his hotel in Masaka City, where he questioned their loyalty.

“Why are you betraying me?” Kasolo reportedly asked, expressing his dismay at the defection of his supporters.

Despite his efforts, it became increasingly clear that his chances of winning in Masaka City and Masaka District were slipping away.

Realizing the futility of his efforts in these areas, Kasolo made yet another strategic move, this time back to his birthplace, Kyotera.

Over the past two months, Kasolo has been actively re-engaging with the community in Kyotera, where he previously served as a Member of Parliament for two terms. His return has been met with mixed reactions from the local population.

During a recent visit to Kalongo village in Kalisizo sub-county, where he was supervising the progress of the Parish Development Model (PDM), a poverty alleviation initiative by President Museveni, residents pleaded with Kasolo to run for Parliament once more.

“Honourable, please come back and serve us. The people we elected into power have not done anything for us,” the locals lamented.

“If you look at the state of infrastructure like roads and schools, you wonder whether the people we voted into power care about us at all,” they added.

In response, Kasolo expressed his frustration with the electorate. “You don’t know what you want. You dropped those who have served you and jumped with those who deceive you by promising heaven but fail to deliver anything,” he said.

“President Museveni knows that I am a performer; that’s why he keeps appointing me as a minister. I wonder why the people I serve fail to realize it,” Kasolo added, reflecting on the challenges he faces in reclaiming his political standing.

As Kasolo contemplates his next move, it is clear that his journey to redefine his political destiny is fraught with challenges.

His attempts to secure a new base in Masaka City and Masaka District have been met with resistance, and his return to Kyotera signals a potential revival of his political fortunes in his home district.

Whether Kasolo will be able to recapture the support of his constituents and find a new path forward remains to be seen.