20100120
allafrica

Kampala — SEVEN candidates, including a nephew to the late James Wapakhabulo, were yesterday nominated to contest for the Mbale municipality parliamentary seat in the byelections scheduled for February 16.

John Wekesa Wamboko, a nephew to Wapakhabulo who was the municipality MP until his death in 2004, was nominated on the NRM ticket.
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"I have come to revive the glory of this town. What has dragged us back is that the people in authority here are very corrupt. I will work closely with the civil servants and politicians to enhance service delivery in the town," he said.

On Monday, Wamboko clarified that he was not a son of Wapakhabulo as had earlier been reported. He said he grew up in Wapakhabulo's home and that was reason he was regarded as his father.

Others nominated included a loser in the NRM primaries, Dr. James Mutende, who is contesting as an independent.

Jack Wamai Wamanga was nominated on the FDC ticket, while Connie Nakayenze Galiwango, 42, a former teacher at Mbale High School, was the only female nominee for the race. She is running as an independent.

Other candidates were David Amos Walyemera (UPC), Sam Wambuya (Independent) and Musa Magomu (Independent).

The nominations that were held at the municipality offices started at 10:00am with Mutende.

Mutende arrived in a fleet of over 10 vehicles, including a vehicle with 'NRM 4th Term Mamba' as its number-plate. However, only two were allowed into the nomination grounds in line with the electoral commission guidelines that bar more than two cars.

Mutende's supporters, donning the NRM T-shirts and dry banana leaves, flashed the party's thumbs-up symbol and danced through the streets to celebrate the nomination of their candidate.

"I am the NRM Independent candidate. We were discontented with the way our party mishandled the party primaries. We tried to petition for a re-run but the top leadership turned a deaf ear. So other discontented members fronted me for the race," Mutende said.

Three other losers in the NRM primaries, Wasswa Masokoyi, Emmanuel Matsyetsye and Patrick Makweta, escorted Mutende to the nomination.

At 2:30pm, Wamanga's FDC procession defied the rules and stormed the nomination grounds overwhelming the Police officers who had been deployed to keep the candidates' supporters at bay.

Wamanga was flanked by the FDC spokesman, Wafula Oguttu and the Budadiri West MP, Nathan Nandala Mafabi.

Nakayenze Galliwango (Independent) vowed to trounce his male rivals.

"We have entrusted men with the mandate to steer this municipality and most of them have failed miserably. The resignation of former MP Wilfred Kajeke just confirmed that it's about time the leadership of the municipality is given to a woman," Nakayenze said.

The Mbale municipality parliamentary seat fell vacant after Kajeke resigned from the position on December 20 last year, citing widespread corruption in the country and high poverty levels in the eastern and northern regions.