John Alintuma Nsambu, the NRM candidate for the Bukoto South MP by-elections has ruled out the possibility of trekking to Mengo to apologize to the Kabaka Buganda over his remarks in the previous elections. Nsambu says that he will win the by elections with or without being pardoned by Mengo. He is contesting the Bukoto South by election against six other candidates after switching from Bukoto East where he lost to DP’s Florence Namayanja in the last elections.
However, his entrance in the Bukoto south by election has sparked off protests by some NRM supporters who accused Nsambu of belittling Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi in the previous election. He is also accused of having playing a big role in the closure of the Mengo owned Central Broadcasting station during the Buganda riots. Voters in the constituency have been pushing Nsambu to apologize to the Kabaka before he continues with his campaigns.
Last week, Nsambu rushed to Kampala and met John Baptist Walusimbi, the Katikiro of Buganda at Pope Memorial hall to apologize over his remarks but his apology was rejected. As a result, NRM officials led by Dorothy Hyuhya, the NRM deputy secretary general resolved to lead Nsambu to Mengo to apologize to the Kabaka and mend fences. But Nsambu says that he will not waste any more time going to Mengo, adding that he can win the polls with or without being pardoned by Mengo.
Nsambu says that he has made various attempts to apologize to Mengo, but the kingdom has adamantly refused to pardon him. He says that instead of wasting time going to Mengo where he is not wanted, he will concentrate on the door to door campaign to explain to voters the truth and clear his name. He blames opposition politicians in Mengo and his former Bukoto East rival, Florence Namayanja of soiling his name to destroy him politically.
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Nsambu predicts to win the election by 75% votes saying that he has consulted with voters who have pledged to support his election basing on his manifesto. He challenges his Democratic Party rival Mathias Nsubuga to account to the electorate what he did for the constituency in the 5 years he served the area in parliament. Nsubuga says that during his reign he supported several activities including the construction of churches, citing Kyamakata church of Uganda and Kiwangala Catholic church where he allegedly contributed about 6 millions under the Constituency Development Fund.
He also alleges that he supplied over 2 million coffee seedlings to farmers and various spray tanks. Other candidates contesting in the race include Julius Ssentamu for FDC and independent candidates Dan Katula, Robert Rutalo, Joseph Ssebayiki and Yusuf Lubega Masengera. The Bukoto South seat fell vacant after the court of appeal threw out Muhammad Mbabali Muyanja over lack of the requisite minimum academic qualifications.
