The Electoral Commission has cleared five candidates to contest the Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election.
The seat fell vacant following the death of former area MP Hellen Nakimuli in April.
The two-day nomination exercise ended on Thursday at the district headquarters.
Ms Harriet Kashagire, the Electoral Commission Returning Officer for Central South, said six aspirants picked nomination forms. However, only five returned the forms and fulfilled the nomination requirements.
Five candidates enter the race
On the final day of nominations, the Electoral Commission cleared independent candidates Babirye Sharifa Kaala and Agnes Nasuuna.
They joined three candidates nominated on Wednesday.
These are Aidah Nabayiga of the National Resistance Movement, Irene Nampala of the National Unity Platform, and independent candidate Helen Flavia Nagawa.
The race has also exposed internal party tensions.
Kaala is known to lean toward NUP but chose to run as an independent after the party endorsed Nampala.
Nagawa is linked to the NRM but opted to contest as an independent after losing to Nabayiga in the party primaries.
Kaala defends independent bid
Kaala’s decision could trigger disciplinary action from NUP.
Article 5, Section 5(c) of the party constitution provides for automatic expulsion of members who contest against official party candidates.
However, Kaala defended her decision after her nomination on Thursday.
She said consultations with residents convinced her to remain in the race.
“I realized I am the suitable candidate to represent the people of Kalangala. Added to the consultations I made, I decided to stand as an independent candidate,” Ms. Kaala said.
She pledged to focus on tourism and the fishing sector.
“Kalangala District is one of the top tourism destinations in Uganda. However, we need to uplift our image, especially in Kalangala Town Council, to attract more visitors.”
Candidates outline priorities
The candidates have placed health, infrastructure, fisheries and economic empowerment at the centre of their campaigns.
Nabayiga, the NRM flag bearer, pledged to lobby the central government to upgrade Kalangala Health Centre IV into a general hospital.
“Kalangala needs a district hospital so that our people do not continue spending a lot of money seeking treatment on the mainland,” she noted.
Nampala, who is the sister of the late Nakimuli, promised to continue her sibling’s work.
She said she would focus on implementing new fisheries regulations, improving medicine supplies in health facilities and empowering women through organised economic groups.
Nagawa said her campaign would focus on improving the island district’s road network and advocating for marginalised groups.
“I will fight for the boy child who has been left behind as girls continue to receive empowerment opportunities,” Nagawa said.
She also pledged to advocate for silverfish, or mukene, fishermen affected by strict regulatory bans.
Parties prepare for short campaign period
The official campaign period runs from June 12 to June 22.
Polling is scheduled for June 24.
Top party mobilisers have already moved to the islands to support their candidates.
NRM National Mobiliser Rose Mary Sseninde said the ruling party has strong structures in Kalangala.
“The President is from NRM, Kalangala has two MPs from NRM, and the district chairperson is also from NRM. We remain with just the Woman MP seat to make it 100 percent NRM leadership. The NRM government works for the people of Kalangala,” Sseninde asserted.
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya defended the party’s decision to front Nampala.
He said the choice followed consultations with residents.
“We sent our teams to the ground and the people of Kalangala requested us to front Irene Nampala. Although we have been given a short campaign period, we believe our message has already reached the people,” Rubongoya said.
Electoral Commission warns against violence
The Electoral Commission has warned candidates and supporters against violence during the by-election.
Kashagire said the commission had put in place measures to ensure a peaceful process across the islands.
“Everybody has been involved to make sure we have a peaceful election. What happens is that there are people who violate the laws and begin to tussle with security personnel,” Ms. Kashagire warned.
She urged candidates and supporters to report grievances to the commission instead of taking matters into their own hands.
Rubongoya also called for a peaceful election.
He said he hoped the by-election would avoid the violence and intimidation seen in some previous polls.