Oguttu, Basalirwa Lock Horns Over Bugiri Municipality seat
Oguttu, Basalirwa Lock Horns Over Bugiri Municipality seat
By Serestino Tusingwire
The two strong opposition members, Wafula Oguttu and Asuman Basalirwa are in a big fight over who should stand as a single opposition candidate for the newly-created Bugiri municipality.
Wafula Oguttu (FDC) is the former leader of opposition in Parliament, while Asuman Basalirwa is the president of Justice Forum (Jeema).
The municipality was approved by the ninth parliament and came into effect on July 1, 2016.
The Electoral Commission is expected to conduct an election there later in the year.
Our highly placed source in Bugiri has intimated to us that Oguttu and Basalirwa have each embarked on political mobilization in the municipality, fuelling a bitter exchange of words between their supporters.
The opposition had planned to front one candidate to battle it out with NRM Bakka Mugabi in the forth coming elections in the municipality, but their failure to consent may clear a way for Mugabi’s win.
During the last election, Oguttu lost his Bukooli Central seat to NRM’s Solomon Silwany while Basalirwa came third in Bukooli North, where NRM’s Gaster Mugoya Kyawa took the seat.