Incumbent Muwanga’s Scathing Attack On Main Challenger Mukiibi Backfires

The once-popular incumbent Butambala MP, Muwanga Kivumbi (NUP), has found himself in a precarious situation after resorting to personal and derogatory campaign tactics against his closest challenger, Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi.

Mukiibi’s decision to run for the seat has put Muwanga under immense pressure, making him unpopular even in his own backyard of Bugoye sub-county.

During a recent event, Muwanga’s frustration boiled over as he mocked Mukiibi, describing him as a “speech-impaired person” who could not speak in Parliament.

In a scathing attack on Mukiibi, Muwanga said, “When you give Mukiibi a microphone to speak, he cannot make a speech for 5 minutes… you mean you want to remove a man who speaks in Parliament and replace him with a speech-impaired person?”

He boasted, “this is the first time I am talking about [Eriasa] Mukiibi because Mukiibi cannot beat me in an election,” but his words were met with resistance from the crowd.

Muwanga claimed that his opponents were using his name and reputation to push their agenda, but he was confident that they would fail. He alleged that area leaders who had defected to Mukiibi’s camp were bribed with small amounts of money to de-campaign him.

“Those who came to attack me from the district headquarters were given Shs20, 000 and when I came with [Mathias] Mpuuga [former leader of opposition in parliament] to Kabasanda, people were given Shs10, 000. I know them and I did not want to talk about them because if you do that, it makes them something, and they get proud.”

However, his belittling of Mukiibi did not sit well with the constituents, who heckled him relentlessly.

Muwanga’s desperation was evident as he turned his attention to a councilor, Kabuubi, who has since defected to Mukiibi’s camp, telling him to focus on his own election and leave him alone.

“I don’t want your councilor post; those who want can give you money and eat, but leave Muwanga Kivumbi alone,” a rattled Muwanga said.

Attacking Kabuubi could not help, but exacerbate the heckling, which forced Muwanga to end his speech prematurely, and he was whisked away by his bodyguard before the function ended.

In a subsequent interview, Muwanga downplayed the incident, saying, “I do not know why me… something very small like this makes news.”

The challenger’s surge in popularity across Butambala has clearly, rattled the incumbent Muwanga who is now trying to belittle his opponent as incapable of speaking whereas not.

The incident has exposed Muwanga’s growing vulnerability and his willingness to engage in negative campaigning. His comments have sparked outrage, with many questioning his fitness to hold public office.

NUP MP Muwanga’s Desperate Behaviour Sparks Calls For Change In Butambala

As the election heats up, Muwanga’s tactics are likely to backfire, handing Mukiibi an advantage. The people of Butambala are tired of Muwanga’s divisive politics, and his attacks, which speak to shallowness and reliance on personal attacks rather than substantive policy debates, may ultimately cost him the election.

In the end, Muwanga’s legacy will be defined by his actions in this campaign. Will he find a way to redeem himself, or will his desperation be his downfall? Only time will tell.