On Sunday, Buganda NRM MPs sitting at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi elected a parallel seven-member caucus executive committee to the original Buganda Parliamentary Caucus chaired by Mukono South MP Johnson Muyanja Ssenyonga and deputized by Mpigi Woman MP Sarah Nakawunde.
The new National Resistance Movement (NRM) Buganda Caucus is meant to popularize President Museveni’s sole
candidature in Buganda.
On Sunday, Buganda NRM MPs sitting at the National Leadership Institute (NALI)
in Kyankwanzi elected a parallel seven-member caucus executive committee to the
original Buganda Parliamentary Caucus chaired by Mukono South MP Johnson
Muyanja Ssenyonga and deputized by Mpigi Woman MP Sarah Nakawunde.
The move has since been criticized by sections of the public who say that it is
meant to divide MPs in the Buganda region and overshadow
the existing caucus. The executive of the new parallel NRM Buganda Caucus is
chaired by Kabula County MP James Kakooza, deputized by Nakaseke South MP Syda
Bumba with Kasanda South MP Simeo Nsubuga
as the Publicity Secretary.
The other members on the executive are Treasure Muyanja Mbabaali the Bukoto
South MP, Bukoto Mid-West MP Kasozi Muyomba (Secretary), Bukuya County MP
Michael Bukenya (Committee Member), Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa
(Ex-Official) and Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kahamba Kuteesa as the
Patron.
Addressing a press conference at Parliament on Thursday, James Kakooza said
that as NRM MPs they realized that for the past three years the caucus
leadership had not made any efforts to meet President Yoweri Museveni to lobby
for the region, unlike other parts.
Kakooza says that they are to ensure that no person in Buganda
stands against President Museveni during the upcoming presidential elections.
Museveni was endorsed by the NRM Parliamentary Caucus and Central Executive
Committee (CEC) as a sole candidate in the party.
Luganda //Cue in: “ffe bwetugenda...
Cue out:...okugikozesa.”//
Simeo Nsubuga says that their new group has not disregarded the
original Buganda Caucus since they still subscribe to it. He emphasized that
their new group will embark on the promotion of sole candidature in Buganda.
Luganda//Cue in: “kikyetusokelako...
Cue out:...kyetusokelako.”//
Ssenyonga spoke out on the parallel Caucus noting that no one has stopped the
new group from popularizing President Museveni and that he does not stop anyone
from supporting their candidate.
He also maintains that he is still the Chairperson of the Buganda Parliamentary
Caucus emphasizing. He says that he will continue executing his duties until his
5-year term elapses.
“You cannot say that because I said no to the Constitutional Amendment,
I am bad, I have no fight with President Museveni whatever they are saying that
I side a lot with the Mengo government, I
will always relay messages from Mengo since it also works with the Central
Government, what is the problem,” said Ssenyonga.
Ssenyonga appealed to fellow MPs to avoid divisions and continue working
together and being loyal to the Buganda Kingdom despite the political
affiliations.
