CASH, LAND & POWER! Mb’ra District Speakership War Erupts as Bushenyi Tycoon’s Sh10m ‘Handshake’ Splits Councillors
A montage of Speaker Munanukye and Nuwagira (inset)
A political storm is tearing through Mbarara District, and at the center of it is a bitter speakership showdown laced with explosive allegations of secret deals, missing millions, and a controversial “handshake” linked to a tycoon from a Muslim tycoon from Bushenyi District.
What began as a routine race for the district council speakership has now spiraled into a full-blown power struggle, with tempers boiling over and alliances cracking wide open. The battle pits the incumbent speaker, Venansius Munanukye, against his fierce challenger, Xaverius Nuwagira—and insiders say the contest has reached a dangerous climax.
Behind the scenes, whispers of money and betrayal are fueling the chaos.
Highly placed sources allege that the spark that lit this political fire was a lucrative land deal involving a Muslim tycoon from Bushenyi District, reportedly negotiated months ago at the plush Lake View Hotel in Mbarara City. The deal, insiders claim, was intended to pave the way for the tycoon to lease land at Kamukuzi Hill to establish a Heart Institute. But what was supposed to be a win-win arrangement has instead detonated into accusations of greed and deception.
Councilors now claim they were shortchanged.
According to multiple sources, each councilor was allegedly promised a hefty Shs10 million as part of the arrangement. But when the money finally came through, many reportedly received only Shs2.5 million—sparking outrage and suspicion that the remaining cash was quietly pocketed by a select group of powerful figures within the district leadership.
“The deal was meant to benefit all of us, not a few individuals,” one furious councilor revealed, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We were clearly cheated. Where did the rest of the money go?”
Finger-pointing has since intensified, with some councilors accusing each other of being among those deeply involved in the negotiations but failing to ensure fair distribution. The fallout has left camps shaken, with critics arguing that the scandal has dented their credibility at the worst possible time.
But the controversy doesn’t end there.
The land at the heart of the storm reportedly has its own tangled history. Initially leased by the district to Robert Rukaari through his company AMPROC, the property was allegedly subleased to this Muslim tycoon from Bushenyi District without the knowledge or approval of the district council. In an even more shocking twist, the land title is said to have been transferred irregularly from the district to Irunga Asuman, a brother to this Muslim tycoon from Bushenyi District —raising serious legal and ethical questions.
The transfer was later cancelled and recalled for review, but by then, the damage had already been done. Sources claim the Muslim tycoon from Bushenyi District stepped in, engaging district leaders and councilors in a bid to salvage the deal—moves that critics now describe as “compromising” and deeply divisive.
The controversy has ripped through the council, creating sharp divisions not just among councilors but also within the district’s top leadership. Even the transition of power at the LC5 level has not been spared, with outgoing chairman Didas Tabaro and incoming chairman Hygiene Kururagire reportedly pulling strings behind the scenes over who should take the powerful speaker’s seat in the 2026–2031 term.
As the tension escalates, the district braces for a critical moment. According to Chief Administrative Officer David Muhwezi, the swearing-in ceremony for new councilors and the LC5 chairperson is slated for May 20, 2026—a date that could mark the climax of this high-stakes political drama.
Meanwhile, Munanukye himself has broken his silence, lamenting what he calls external interference aimed at tearing the council apart.
“Some people want these council members split. Some no longer want me to talk or meet my councilors outside there. Pressure is high among us, but let them leave us to stand and compete. Whoever wins will be congratulated,” he said during a recent heated council meeting.
But his warning carried a darker undertone.
“The way we have started, it is a bad beginning which will create troubles in the next term.”
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