Background to Rukiga District politics

Background and analysis of Rukiga District politics as the current phase of elections begins

Former Rukiga County Member of Parliament Hon Jack Sabiiti addressing the press

Rukiga finally attained a district status effective 1st July 2017 and as a result, political activity that has raged unofficially is let loose to rampage the otherwise innocent and bonafide population in the four sub-counties of Kamwezi and Bukinda of South Rukiga as well as Rwamucucu and Kashambya of Northern Rukiga without forgetting the already existent Muhanga town council and the brand new Rukiga town council that was formed with the district.

Although the most outspoken positions up for grabs are the Woman Member of Parliament for Rukiga district as well as the District Chairperson, there are many more positions created that await the same elections. These include District Councillors for people with disabilities, Youth Representative, the Elderly Rukiga town council representative as well as the entire Council of the new Rukiga town council at all levels of division who wards down to LC1 level.

Without fear or favour, NIGAAHE presents to its followers at both the podcast www.pod-africa.com/nigaahe and blog wwww.medium.com/@nigaahe the background analytical view of Rukiga district politics with which the electorate has entered the current elections phase.

Let me begin with a surprise for some of the elite who do not ordinarily reside in Rukiga by listing the factors that have had no significant impact on political trends.

1. Clans

No politician in Rukiga has ever derived noticeable advantage through emphasis of his or her clan.

2. Political party and ideology affiliation

As per subsequent analysis, other factors have tended to negate party politics as a major vehicle to political success.

3. Academic qualifications

Most political contestants have learnt to avoid bragging about high academic qualifications amount the averagely low standards of the electorate. They can even punish the mistake by showing that you are in the wrong place.

Given the ineffectiveness of the above factors, serious contestants are left with a tool box loaded with the following factors, any of which can be applied or administered onto to the unsuspecting electorate at his or her convenience depending on the competition terrain.

1. Religious ticket

Much as everyone pays lip service to the condemnation of this tool, no contestant ever leaves it behind in their clandestine tactics.

2. Cash

The only contestants who condemn throwing cash at the electorate are those with less of it at their disposal.

3. Affiliation to political war lards

The Rukiga electorate has developed a reputation of not just being supporters of a major contestant but actually belonging to him or her. In other words, the candidate owns the supporters through a condition that crates a war situation.

4. External influence

There are known instances when communities receive instructions on who to vote lest they face some consequences.

5. Sub-county of origin

Due to the geographical shape of Rukiga district, there exists a never-ending competition for representatives and playing host to service centres between Nothern and Southern Rukiga sub-counties. Given the enumerated prevalent factors above, it is not possible to analyse Rukiga politics without reference to religious denominations, specific political parties, and names of prominent political leaders or sub-county origins of political contestants. NIGAAHE therefore conveys apologies in advance to those not conformable with the explicit analysis as given below.

As Rukiga enters yet another phase of hot political contestation, this is the analysis of the major phases it has gone through in the past. Their impact on the area political terrain will inevitably play a role in the metamorphosis that has led to present day politics.

Phase one — The politics of religion (1959 to 1966)

In the period when basic education and health services were a prerogative of religious denominations; political affiliation also arrived in style by direct and strict attachment to religious sects. The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) was the party for Anglicans represented by candidate and later parliamentarian Elly Nathan Bisamunyu from Rwamucucu while the Democratic Party (DP) was for all members of the Catholic faith represented by candidate Benedicto Bangirana from Nyarushanje before it shifted to Rukungiri district. The different houses of praise were converted into tactical centres as well as bases of rivalry. Faith based hatred was the order of the day. UPC being the ruling party led to Anglicans being rulers and at times even oppressors of Catholics.

Phase two — UPC against itself (1968 to 1970)

When at national level UPC phased out DP to near extinction, village level and constituency politics remained a monopoly of UPC which drifted into infighting. In Kigezi including Rukiga, two very strong and virulent factions raged on. Abanyama (meat eaters) led by John Rwamafa fought running political battles with Ababoga (vegetarians) led by John Bikangaga.

Phase three — No organised politics (1971 to 1985)

Military rule in the 70s and national leadership indecision in the first half of the 80s left Rukiga without significant political activity.

Phase four — NRM against itself with political war lords (1986 to 2011)

In this political season, Rukiga developed a special reputation for rivalry, infighting and at times outright war based on support for specific individuals whom NIGAAHE has dubbed political war lords. Southern Rukiga based Manzi Tumibweine literally owned supporters who fought running battles with Nothern Rukiga based Jack Sabiti who also owned his own supporters within the same organisation the National Resistance Movement. Even when Jack Sabiti shifted to the opposition party the Forum for Democratic Change, his support base remained intact irrespective of political party affiliation although it has remained arguable whether these supporters actually shifted to the opposition party.

Phase five — Political war lords phase out (2011 to 2016 )

Political observers find it very interesting that die hard supporters of a political war lord with a near crazy belonging do not allow their candidate to dictate to them the next recommended candidate if and when they phase out. Consequently Manzi and Sabiti have not managed to enthrone any heirs. Adson Kakuru and Hope Mwesigye who seemed to play the roles of political war lords were concurrently voted out of politics in 2011 while Jack Sabiti was also phased out politically in 2016.

Phase six — Political free choice (2016 - On wards)

Let us now analyse the circumstance in which the Rukiga electorate enters the NRM primary elections of August 21st 2017 with specific reference to the factors that will bombard them in all the campaign season

a) Religious affiliation

It is common knowledge that Rukiga district is predominantly inhabited by members of the Anglican faith. They however cannot be taken for granted. Their current parliamentarian Henry Kabafunzaki is from the Catholic faith.

b) Political affiliation

Some analysts argue that it is hard to find sizeable groups of members of opposition parties in Rukiga. However, their most immediate outgoing parliamentarian Jack Sabiti is from opposition FDC. Meaning that candidate party belonging may not be a dependable success route.

c) Disposable cash down

The outspoken voter cash down has proved to be an exploitation gimmick by the electorate. Otherwise many candidates have been let down after heavy expenditure on direct or indirect voter bribery.

d) External influence

Although some candidates have already shown traits of invoking non Rukiga heavy weights to exert pressure on the electorate, this trick has proved less and less successful in Kigezi of late.

e) Sub-county of origin

The ‘it is our sub-county’s turn’ trick used by some candidates in the past seems to have been demystified.

Although all this bombardment equipment has been unleashed onto the Rukiga district population. It is still reasonable to state that at no time in the political history of Rukiga has the electorate ever entered the election season with minds free from undue influence at such present levels. Therefore, may the best candidates win according to the decision of the voters themselves.

The following have been confirmed as contestants in the forthcoming hotly contested NRM primary elections whose campaigns have already kicked off to climax on the elections day of August 21st.

For the Women District Parliamentary seat, they are;

· Victoria Arbigail Atukunda From Ibumba in Rwamucucu

· Pamela Kihumuro from Nyarurambi in Rwamucucu

· Caroline Kamusiime Muhwezi from Rushebeya in Rwamucucu

· Maurine Kyarisiima from Kamwezi

· CharityTwongyeirwe Ainebyoona from Kitanga in Kashambya

· Alice Basobokwe from Mparo in Rwamucucu

For the district chairperson seat commonly known as LC5, they are;

· Jackson asiimwe Rwamwehare from Kantare Kashambya

· Doctor Alex Kampikaho from Mparo Rwamucucu

· Danis Willy Nkwasibwe from Kashumuruzi Kashambya

Let me conclude by emphasising that nobody should make the mistake of jumping to any conclusive predictions about the following statistical analysis of the candidates above. First, out of the total 9 candidates, only one lady Maurine Kyarisiima hails from Kamwezi of South Rukiga. The remaining 8 originate from Rwamucucu and Kashambya of Nothern Rukiga. Actually there are five from Rwamucucu, three from Kashamya, one from Kamwezi and no one from Bukinda. Out of the 9 candidates, only one Arbigail Atukunda originates from the Roman Catholic faith. The rest all come from the Anglican faith. As at the time of reporting which is only days away from nomination day, we do not mention any intending candidate from any opposition party. No one has indicated any interest to contest.

So, let the Rukiga political war begin and climax on September 21st 2017 as per Electoral Commission declaration.

Good luck

For more stories and analysis of Kigezi, listen to episodes of the Nigaahe podcast below;

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