A youthful businessman based in Nairobi, Charleson Batsigira, 35 has returned home to challenge security minister, Maj. Gen. (Retired) Jim Katugugu Muhwezi for the Rujumbura County parliamentary seat in the forthcoming 2026 general elections.
Batsigira who in the previous elections supported and campaigned for Muhwezi is charging to challenge his master whom he says has got busier with ministerial work abandoning his constituency.
He believes that the incumbent has had tremendous achievements for the different terms he has represented Rujumbura county in parliament but his energy seems to have declined.
“Gen. Jim Muhwezi regained the seat in 2021 having lost it for five years between 2016 -2021 but his return has no impact. We appreciate him for the representation and we are not against him but we believe it’s time to relieve him of the heavy load of representing the people of Rujumbura,” Batsigira stated.
“In the many years in different terms Jim represented us, he failed to lobby for an improved health sector and opening of feeder roads in Rujumbura. The people of Rujumbura are farmers and would want to transport their milk and produce to the markets but bad roads have made it difficult leaving residents impoverished.”
Among the impassable feeder roads that Batsigira named include Kashegu - Rukungiri road, Kanungu - Kahoko highway, Omukaterero road and Katwekamwe - Kihanga road among others.
He believes he can work closely with the people of Rujumbura and have a good representation in parliament that will see gaps in infrastructure addressed immediately.
“Gen. Muhwezi is a very busy man with lots of ministerial work and has little time for the constituency. Let him concentrate there as Rujumbura gets a new representative in parliament in the name of Charleson Batsigira. I will create a good working relationship with the local population and the technocrats to have a total overhaul of the infrastructure like roads and health centers,” Batsigira said.
Most districts in the country have largely benefited under the rural electrification program with electricity now reaching most rural areas but Batsigira is disappointed by the limited power coverage in Rujumbura.
“Under former member of parliament Turyamuhweza, there were attempts to light up Rujumbura, but only ended with electricity poles erected and standing bare without a single electric wire attached to it. Even when he is a cabinet minister, he has failed to channel resources to benefit his own people.”
When contacted for a comment on the matter, Gen Jim Muhwezi didn’t respond to our repeated calls.
