WHY DID ANDREW MARTIAL LOSE IGARA EAST PARLIAMENTARY SEAT?

BY WILBER MUHWEZI KASIBANTE
IN BUSHENYI—
Results for Igara East by election were declared last night at 11:31pm at Bushenyi district council hall. Micheal Mawanda, Independent won with 16,209 whereas Martial Andrew[NRM] lost with 12,991votes. Other candidates were; Benjamin Katana [independent], Christine Ninsiima Bekunika [FDC] Benards Kananura [Independent] and David Amstrong [independent] followed in the above order.
SO WHY DID ANDREW MARTIAL LOSE?
To begin with, most of the NRM Leaders from the district to village never supported him including the NRM chairman for Ibaale sub-county Mr. Byakwaga Sebastiano Aka Game where he [Martial] is born
Two, NRM members of parliament from Bushenyi district; Magyezi [Igara West], Arinda Cow boy [Bushenyi Ishaka municipality] and Minister Mary Karooro Okurut [Bushenyi district woman MP] never appeared at any of Martial’s rallies neither appeared on any radio station. Cow boy and Karooro only appeared on the last rally by president Museveni Tuesday Dec. 12, 2017.
Martial only depended on MPs outside Bushenyi district like Capt. Donozio Kahonda from Mitooma district, Charles Ngabirano from Rwampara Mbarara and Rosette Kajungu from Mbarara as well.

The media factor has been a big issue. Mawanda has two radio stations in Bushenyi district; Hunter fm and Theo fm and his campaign agent Geofrey Kibeherere also owns World fm. All these three radio stations aired all mawanda’s campaign rallies live whereas Martial’s had none. He would appear once in awhile on Bushenyi FM.
Voters still accused him of running away from the constituency after winning the elections in 2016. For one and half years, martial was too rare in Igara east because he is doing a degree in law at Kampala International University [KIU].
Lastly, president Yoweri Museveni’s rallies in Ruhumuro and kyeizooba sub-counties on Dec. 12, 2017, Instead of Museveni to attack Mawanda that he is NOT NRM. Museveni instead said that both candidates; Mawanda and Martial are NRM members. He at worst attacked Martial for having refused to support removal of age remit of president from the constitution. This greatly worked for Mawanda.
Hon Martial former MP who served for only 16 months also did not have enough funds to run the campaigns. He only depended on Tycoon Basajabalaba and the NRM secretariat. Basajabalaba came to rescue martial only six days to voting day. He found that Mawanda had entrenched the field.
WHAT WERE MAWANDA’S WINNING POINTS?
Mawanda funded many projects in the constituency during his five year term from 2011—2016. Like re-opening schools closed during Amanya Mushega’s tenure and General developmental projects.
He was Support by NRM structures from the grassroots to the district
President Musevenis failure to decampaign Mawanda on his two rallies. He Instead attacked martial.
Media; Out of five radio stations in Bushenyi district, Mawanda used on full time basis three radio stations to broadcast live his rallies.
Financial capacity; Mawanda was able throughout the campaign period to very well fund is campaign.
Sympathy vote; supporters look at him as one whose votes were stolen therefore that was the time when he should be rewarded.
Source:www.mknewslink.com a western Uganda news website.
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