Sawuya Nanyonga promises Masaka city “able representation”
By Hashim Kalungi
Independent candidate Sawuya Nanyonga was on Thursday officially nominated to contest for the Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament seat, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive race. She enters a field that includes the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) Justin Namere, the incumbent Juliet Kakande of the Democratic Front (DF), and Rose Nalubowa of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Nanyonga’s entry is particularly notable as she was denied the NUP ticket, which was instead awarded to her now-rival, Rose Nalubowa.
Undeterred, the independent candidate, who serves as the head teacher of Masaka Parents Secondary School, is positioning her campaign around a platform of community revitalization.
She has pledged to champion the long-overlooked aspirations of the Muslim community and advance the rights and opportunities of the girl child in Masaka.
Her bid evokes a sense of historical significance for the Muslim community.
Masaka has not had a Muslim MP since the tenure of Sauda Namagwa Mugerwa of the NRM, who served as the Woman Member of Parliament after defeating Agnes Namayanja of the Democratic Party in the 2006 general elections. Nanyonga aims to break this long political hiatus.
Central to her campaign are promises of economic empowerment.
“I am skilled in soap and book making,” Nanyonga stated. “These are practical skills that can be acquired by our young women and youth to help them earn a living. I plan to scale up this training for our people when I am elected into leadership.”
Beyond vocational skilling, she also committed to revitalizing sports activities in the region, framing it not only as a leisure pursuit but as a viable sector that can create employment and address the pervasive challenge of youth joblessness.
A city-wide political battle unfolds
The nomination of Nanyonga was part of a broader political mobilization across Masaka City’s constituencies. On the first day of nominations (Wednesday), the race for the Kimanya-Kabonera Municipality seat also took shape, with Kutesa Patrick of the National Unity Platform, Abed Bwanika of the Democratic Front, and the National Resistance Movement’s Robert Asimwe all successfully nominated.
Meanwhile, in Nyendo-Mukungwe Municipality, a high-stakes contest is brewing. Faridah Kyeyune Ali Nakitende, also known as Rachel, was nominated to challenge Mathias Mpuuga, who is seeking a fourth term in Parliament on the Democratic Front ticket. They will also face off against the National Unity Platform’s Lubowa Ssebina, making it a triangular race.
Speaking after his nomination, Mpuuga expressed confidence, promising that candidates on the DF ticket would offer “good leadership that is people-centered” if elected.
Electoral Commission Issues guidance and warning
Masaka City Deputy Registrar, Hayidali Joloba, commended the nominated candidates for adhering to the established guidelines. However, he issued a warning to all candidates against the common practice of engaging in premature campaigns. Joloba emphasized that campaign activities must only commence after the official flag-off, which will follow the harmonization of the campaign schedule by the Electoral Commission.
