DEMOCRATIC PARTY BIG GUNS WINS POSTS IN PARTY PRIMARIES

Tuesday, 24th August, 2010

By Moses Mulondo
A number of Democratic Party (DP) top leaders have won elections in the ongoing party primaries, which started early this month. The party secretary for youth, Samuel Muyizzi, who is part of the committee coordinating the primaries, told New Vision that each constituency and district had been mandated to organise the primaries at a convenient date. Muyizzi said 50% of the country had held elections, adding that the exercise would end next month. The party MPs who have won the primaries for re-election in their constituencies include Ssebuliba Muddu Awulira (Kawempe South), Latif Ssebagala (Kawempe North), Paul Keneth Kakande (Nakawa), Mohamed Kawuma (Entebbe Municipality), Isa Kikungwe (Kyadondo South), and John Mutebi Balikuddembe (Busiro South). The MPs, whose areas have not yet held primaries, include Dr. Michael Lulume Bayiga (Buyikwe South), Betty Nambooze (Mukono North), and Elias Lukwago (Kampala Central). Lukwago, Nambooze and Lulume do not support the DP executive led by Norbert Mao, which is organising the elections. The party secretary for Kampala Central, Charles Wasswa, yesterday said Lukwago had not yet submitted his application for the primaries, which are to take place today. Efforts to get a comment from Lukwago were futile as his phone was switched off. Other top party leaders, who won the primaries to stand as MPs, include former Mengo minister Medard Lubega Ssegona (Busiro East), Sabastian Lwanga (Makindye East), Richard Kalibbala (Makindye West), Vincent Mayanja (Lubaga South), Maxensia Takirambule Nakibuuka (Lubaga North), Juliet Musoke (Wakiso Woman MP), David Kikazuba (Koboko), Richard Ssenkaaba (Buikwe West) and Janat Nassiwa (Kalungu). Others are Kampala journalist Joe Nam (Oyam North), Godfrey Ochwo (Tororo county), David Woniala (Budadiri East), Godfrey Kaggwa (Kakuuto), Christopher Okidi (Agago county), John Owori (Budama North), Joseph Pacoto (Chua county), Joseph Opio (Lamwo), William Lebu (Adjumani), Ellis Onzi (Moyo) and Peter Akol (Kasilo). The Masaka region held its primaries yesterday and by press time, the results were not yet known. However, sources in the party said Mukasa Mbidde (Kalungu East), John Kawanga (Masaka Municipality), and Mathias Nsubuga (Bukoto South) were expected to win in their areas. Results from Nakawa indicated that the current division chairman, Protazio Kintu, was beaten by Hajji Musa Bireke, and Nasser Takuba was beaten by Dan Ssali Konkomebbi in Kawempe Division.