MP Mubarak Munyagwa Blames His Loss on "Love for Besigye"

Kawempe South Member of Parliament (MP), Mubarak Munyagwa has blamed his loss in the just-concluded parliamentary elections on his love and support for Dr Kiiza Besigye.

Munyagwa, who is largely known for his comical character, lost the seat to Journalist Bashir Kazibwe of the National Unity Platform-NUP. Kazibwe polled 26, 855 votes, in a race that attracted 10 candidates, while Munyagwa finished third in the race with 3,788 votes behind National Resistance Movement’s Solomon Mayanja with 6,818 votes. 

The others were Roy Ssembogga who polled 1,250, Nathan Justice Gahungu, with 803 votes, Ssebuliba Mutumba Richard with 464, Edirisa Tenywa with 240, Makumbi Kenneth Steady John with 223, Lumu John Baptist with 77 votes, and Silas Anguzu who polled 68 votes. 

Munyagwa has served as MP for only five years. He joined parliament on the Forum for Democratic Change –FDC ticket, after serving as the Kawempe Division Mayor for another five years. During his tenure in Parliament, Munyagwa was also appointed chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises.   

But now he believes that his own people gave him a protest vote for sticking with Besigye, even when they were unhappy with him for failing to oust President Yoweri Museveni.   

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Munyagwa, however, said that besides that, he fell victim to the uncoordinated NUP wave that swept the Central region.

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The National Unity Platform won all, but two, of the seats in Kampala and Wakiso district defeating incumbents from the National Resistance Movement and other opposition parties. 

Those who lost include Ministers Rosemary Seninde, and Sozzi Galabuzi, Incumbents; Robert Kasule Ssebunya, Peter Sematimba, Michael Kabaziguruka, Ibrahim Kasozi, Kato Lubwama, and Moses Kasibante, among others. The two candidates who survived the wave include Kampala Central MP Mohammad Nsereko and Ibrahim Semujju Nganda, the Kira Municipality MP. 

Munyagwa says the wave sent a strong signal for him and other change agents but adds that he is not about to retire. Instead, he will still team up with Col. Besigye to take further their pursuit for regime change.