Unity and renewal is what both the rival Form for Democratic Change (FDC) affiliated candidates are promising, but they offer very different paths to get there.
Shunned by his party and friends- Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine – and embattled FDC flag bearer Apollo Kantinti are already revolutionising Kyadondo East constituency and Ugandan politics.
They have delivered a big blow to the long-dominant semi-urban opposition supporters and conservative ruling party NRM diehards.
Bobi Wine’s popularity was evidenced during election campaigns on Sunday which got more competitive with former presidential candidate Dr. Kiiza Besigye canvassing votes for Katinti.
“Please vote for Katinti our party flagbearer, his representation in Parliament means alot to us as the people of Kyandondo East,” Dr Besigye begged at the launch of Katinti’s political campaigns at Wmapeewo Football Ground in Wakiso District yesterday. He was complimented by the candidate himself who asked the people not to look at his rival’s crowds but remain supportu=ive of the party after Bobi Wine’s entourage passed Wampewo on their way to Kitegombwa in Nangabo where he held his rally.
The singer cum politician’s crowds were visibly bigger than those of Kantinti even though Kasangati is where Besigye resides.
This divided the supporters as most abandoned Mr Katinti and Besigye’s rally in forever of Mr Kyagulanyi’s showing the contrast in the two rival but same-party camps.
Bobi Wine’s had musicians such as David Lutalo, King Saha, Mary Bata and others while Besigye and Kantinti and top leaders of FDC like the party president Maj. Gen. Gregory Mugisha Muntu, FDC chairperson Wasswa Birigwa, secretary general Nathan Nandala Mafabi, coordinator Ingrid Turinawe among others.
Bobi Wine instead had with him Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) officials led by Moses Bigirwa and Charles Wasswa, and the deputy spokesperson of the Democratic Party (DP), Alex Waiswa as well as Kasangati Mayor, Tony Ssempeebwa and former presidential candidate Samuel Lubega Mukaku campaigning for him.
Key challengers in the race are FDC-leaning candidate Muwada Nkunyingi contesting as an Independent, National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s Sitenda Ssebalu, a former MP of the same constituency, Democratic Party’s Lillian Babirye Kamoome and Sowedi Kayongo (Independent).
Each of the six candidates claims to be the best placed to deliver for the constituency but come June 29, voters will decide who takes the mantle.
The MP seat fell vacant after court through out incumbent Kantinti over electoral irregularities following a petition by NRM’s Sitenda Sebalu who is also in the race.
If the crowds that attend his rallies are anything to go by, Bobi Wine is the frontrunner in this race.
