NRM’s loser in Kasese by-election quits politics

The NRM’s losing flag-bearer in the just concluded Kasese Woman MP by-election, Rehema Muhindo, says she has quit politics. Muhindo was defeated a week ago by her rival, FDC’s Winnie Kiiza, who retainer her seat in Parliament. Claiming she lost as a result of gutter politics, Rehema said: “I have decided that I and my family should leave politics for the able people because the people of Kasese don’t want the truth. My loss is a clear manifestation of the lies that FDC told people here.” However, some ruling party supporters in the district have attributed Muhindo’s loss to the condescending attitude of Defence minister, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga. “We told Kiyonga to stay out of the campaigns but he deliberately refused, now he has seen for himself,” said Masitaki Buduwe, the Kasese district NRM administrative secretary. Masitaki accused Kiyonga of playing divisive politics in Kasese, much to the detriment of the ruling party. Others attribute Muhindo’s loss the combustible question of ethnicity in the district. For instance many people had expected President Museveni, who visited the area to campaign for Muhindo, to denounce the installation of Ivan Rutakirwa as cultural leader of the Basongora, a minority cattle-keeping ethnic group, closely related to the Batooro. Museveni instead asked both the Bakonzo and Basongora to engage in dialogue, to the chagrin of those who wanted him to call the Basongora leaders to order. The Rwenzururu Kingdom, which broke away from Toro kingdom, does not recognise the Busongora kingdom.