BUKOMANSIMBI SOUTH: Bashir Semakula, Four Opposition Candidates Wear Boots to Oust MP Kayemba Solo

At least four strong opposition candidates and NRM/PLU’s Bashir Semakula have shown interest to challenge Bukomansimbi south incumbent legislator Kayemba Godfrey Solo.

All the candidates are busy silently laying their grounds for the coming elections with a number of community activities and physical participation in community events.

Apart from NRM’s Semakula, the strong opposition candidates include Mubiru Arthur Cherry who belongs to the National Unity Platform, the former area legislator Hon. Deogratius Kiyingi who formerly contested under the Democratic Party but not known where he currently belongs, Ms. Eva Birimukatonda (NUP) and Kagimu Kiwanuka Maurice (NRM leaning).

Among the five candidates vying for the parliamentary seat according to analysts, Semakula Bashir has higher chances of winning since he belongs to the Patriotic League of Uganda and the NRM ruling party, his mobilisation skills and also the results he obtained during the previous 2021 elections where he scored the third position out of the nine candidates.

Bashir Ssemakula is a popular businessman and the Executive Director of Bash Foundation, a Bukomansimbi based CBO supporting lives of the needy.

However, Kagimu Kiwanuka Maurice also has higher chances of winning the race as an Ex-MP of Bukomansimbi constituency. He knows the geopolitics of the entire district and he attained second best results during the previous elections having garnered 4,072 votes.

Kagimu Kiwanuka Maurice served as the Minister of State of Economic Monitoring at the Monitoring, Office of the President from 2001 to 2006. He served as Uganda’s ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, and other international organizations based in Geneva. He was a Member of Parliament of Bukomansimbi constituency in Masaka district. This was before Kalungu District, Lwengo District, and Bukomansimbi District were peeled off from the old Masaka District.

Mr. Lawrence Mukasa, one of the popular political analysts in Bukomansimbi District says, Mubiru Arthur is also a strong candidate who might cause a tough challenge to other candidates since he has gained popularity on ground because of his support to the NUP and his ties at the Party headquarters.

Mubiru Arthur is the Youth Leader in the Catholic Church of Masaka Diocese, a Professional Teacher, farmer and school Director.

“The young man has laid a strong ground for himself, his ties with the Catholic Church as the Masaka Diocesan Youth leader also favor him but Semakula Bashir and Kagimu Kiwanuka are also among the strong candidates you can’t underrate.” Mukasa says.

Mukasa adds that some individuals in Bukomansimbi south are advising Hon. Deo Kiyingi the former area Member of Parliament to contest again because of his achievements during his past terms of legislation but he is affected by his wife’s status Hon. Nakiwala Kiyingi who crossed to the NRM.

“When Hon. Nakiwala Kiyingi crossed from Democratic Party to the NRM, his husband lost popularity amongst the opposition and it could be one of the reasons as to why he ended up in position four during the last elections yet he was the incumbent. I understand Hon. Kayemba Solo’s performance hasn’t exceeded Kiyingi’s scorecard both in the constituency and in the house but I have always advised him not to contest again.” Mukasa said.

Hon. Deo Kiyingi is a popular businessman, politician and farmer based both in Kampala and Bukomansimbi.

According to the most recent scorecard for the third session of the 11^th Parliament, the incumbent Bukomansimbi south MP Kayemba solo scored position 135 out of over 500 legislators and position 27 in the central region having stood 20 times on the floor of Parliament. However, this website has learnt that his performance in the constituency has not convinced his electorates so far.

During the last elections, Bukomansimbi South county parliamentary race had nine candidates who obtained the following results respectively; Kayemba Solo (NUP-winner) 9,200 votes, Kagimu Kiwanuka Maurice (Independent) 4,072 votes, Semakula Bashir (NRM) 3,787 votes, Kiyingi Deogratius (DP) 2,955 votes, Naluwuge Annet (Independent) 487 votes, Mulindwa Andrew (Independent) 328 votes, Birimukatonda Eva Noah (Independent) 321 votes and Sebukomo Julius (FDC) 33 votes.

Bukomansimbi is one of the districts in Masaka sub region which are likely to have hotly contested positions because of its known support for both the ruling party NRM and the opposition.

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