Today is the long awaited day for the by-elections in the two districts that went vacant after their representatives decided to represent women of the newly created districts.
The Kabong woman MP seat fell vacant after Hon. Lilly Akello opted to represent women of the newly created district of Karenga. Then the one for Hoima also fell vacant after Hon Tophas Kaahwa Byagira also opted to cross over to the newly created district of Kikuube.
However, much attention has been drawn on the one for Hoima because it has a momentum of stiff competition between the NRM Candidate Harriet Busingye and the FDC People power leaning candidate Asinasi Nyakato Kamanda.
Kabong has not been given much attention because the FDC candidate Ms Adyaka Judith Nalibe had earlier requested to withdraw from the race sighting being abandoned by her party which sponsored her Candidature and this showed she lost interest though the Electoral commission turned down her request and she was forcefully contained in the race which seems to be a sure win for NRM’s candidate Christine Nakwang Tubo.
For the case of Hoima, the battle lines have been set between the only two nominated candidates of NRM and FDC and the two camps already drummed up support for them and both are favorites to win.
In the same line, the army, police and all other security agencies have been deployed in big numbers.
Besides Asinansi being an FDC leaning candidate backed by all political parties, people power headed by Bobi Wine has proved the biggest drivers of this election and any win for them will mean a lot in the 2021 general elections.
But we can’t also under-estimate the fact that Bunyoro sub-region has been a stronghold for the NRM party with many big names at the helm of Museveni’s government with the likes of finance minister Matia Kasaija, Uganda’s Ambassodor to Burundi Maj Gen Mathias Kyarigonza among others who have stood behind the NRM candidate Harriet Busingye.
