The decision by John Alintuma Nsambu, the former ICT state minister to contest the Bukoto South MP by election has drawn mixed reactions from NRM supporters and party Electoral Commission. He announced his decision to contest the Bukoto south MP by election after the court of appeal upheld a high court ruling nullifying the election of Muhammad Muyanja Mbabali over lack of the minimum Advance level education certificate or equivalent.
In the 2011 election, Nsambu contested the Bukoto East seat on the NRM ticket but lost to Florence Namayanja. His decision to contest to relocate from Bukoto East and contest the Bukoto south seat has caused confusion in the constituency. NRM leaders in Lwengo led by Gertrude Nakabira, the Lwengo Woman Member of Parliament have rejected the proposal by Nsambu to contest in Bukoto south saying that he is a political reject. Nakabira argues that having lost to DP’s Florence Namayanja in Bukoto East, Nsambu stands even a bigger chance of losing the Bukoto south by election.
She claims that since Nsambu failed to address the issues that led to his rejection in Bukoto East he might cost the party if he is allowed to contest in the Bukoto South. The former minister ran into trouble when he was accused of blaspheming Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, the Kabaka of Buganda, an accusation he vehemently denied. Prof. Elijah Mushemeza, the Chairperson NRM electoral commission says despite the fact that Nsambu has picked up nomination to contest in the NRM primary elections, he will not be nominated until he resigns his current position as NRM Party candidate for Bukoto East.
Mushemeza says once Nsambu contests the Bukoto south seat without resigning from Bukoto East where he was elected party candidate it could lead to court litigation. He therefore advises him to resign his position in Bukoto East and relocate to Bukoto south before is he wants to stand a chance to contest in the party primaries scheduled for Friday. Martin Musoke, the Lwengo district Electoral Commission Returning officer says despite the fact that constitution allows Nsambu to contests anywhere in the country, he must prove that he is registered voter in Bukoto South before the nomination exercise.
He says that Nsambu must present to Electoral Commission a letter from his LC I chairman with details showing why he relocated from Bukoto East to Bukoto South. Nsambu insists that he will contest the Bukoto South polls but declines to explain whether or not he has fulfilled the conditions listed by both NRM and Electoral Commission.
