BrendaMutesi Kanshabe has been nominated as an independent candidate for the Ntungamo District Woman Member of Parliament seat, pledging to tackle persistent challenges in service delivery, health, education, and economic empowerment once elected.
Speaking after her nomination at the Ntungamo District Electoral Commission offices, Kanshabe said she joined the race after identifying leadership and service delivery gaps she intends to fix with her team.
“I saw a leadership gap and service delivery that I wanted to address with my team,” she said.
“I want to work on economic development for families and youth. I will promote agricultural productivity through value addition, cooperative marketing, and entrepreneurship.”
Kanshabe underlined her plan to empower women and youth by easing access to affordable financial support and government programs.
“I also want to promote youth and women projects in the district with access to soft loans or affordable finance through government programs,” she noted.
“The youth in our area need 21st-century skills to enable them to get what to do. I won’t say that I will end unemployment, but I will make sure that every youth has what to do — embracing skill hubs and accessing small loans.”
On social services, Kanshabe pledged to work closely with government agencies to improve the state of health and education facilities.
“There are gaps in health where some subcounties have only a Health Centre III. I will work with the government to address this,” she said.
“There are also gaps in the education sector, with some subcounties lacking government-aided schools, and I will work with government on this.”
Although she is contesting as an independent, Kanshabe clarified that she still supports the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
“I support NRM, however much I was away during the NRM primaries — that’s why I am coming as an independent,” she said.
Ntungamo District, which has five constituencies and 34 subcounties or town councils, has a voter population of about 315,037 people and 1,033 villages.
Women in Ntungamo continue to face pressing challenges, including poor access to maternal health services, low education retention rates among girls, and limited economic opportunities.
Many have called for leaders who can prioritize women’s empowerment, improve healthcare facilities, and enhance access to education and financial resources.
Kanshabe will face several other aspirants for the Woman MP seat, including Viola Buroko Namanya of NRM, Juliet Kindyahamutima (Independent), Winnie Twinomugisha of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), and two other candidates yet to be officially confirmed.
The women are jostling for what is up for grabs after sitting MP Josyline Kamateneti was defeated in the NRM primaries and opted not to contest as an independent.
