WITH less than a year for hot campaigns to be officially announced by the Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, Jinja City West constituency is one of the areas to watch because the stakes are high.
Currently represented by Hon Dr Timothy Lusala Batuwa, the constituency described as ‘always tricky’ residents are already buzzing at the sight and names of potential contenders struggling to woe them ahead of the 2026 general elections.
One such is businessman cum politician Emmanuel Joram Kamugisha who contested the last NRM primary and lost to Moses Grace Balyeku who hitherto is the flagbearer, although he too lost the main election to Hon Batuwa.
“…it’s going to be firework this time round, I will not simply allow my votes to be stolen the way it was done in 2020 when some people thought they owned the whole of Jinja City…”,Kamugisha said.
In a veiled verbal fire directed at MP Timothy Lusala Batuwa and Hon Moses Grace Balyeku,the mid age politician with links to the Patriotic League of Uganda(PLU) founder Gen Kainerugaba Muhoozi who is also Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces(CDF),Gish vows to take the seat in 2026.
A professed NRM supporter, Gish describes the people of Jinja City West constituency as political orphans because their current MP is aligned to a party of self seekers.
Quoting Jesus’ counsel as recorded in St Matthew 12:25 which says ‘a house divided against itself cannot stand…’Gish dismisses FDC which has two antagonistic factions of Katonga and Najankumbi as a by-gone matter.
“…it’s a fallacy for those MPs and other leaders who still subscribe to the fast-fading FDC to mistakenly think they can still continue to hoodwink Ugandans into giving them mandate…” he riled.
Gish boasts of having a very tightly-knit network of loyal mobilisers and strategists in all corners of the constituency whose aspirations and interests do not hinge on any monetary gains but better representation in parliament.
Once elected, Gish promises to use his connection with Gen Kainerugaba Muhoozi popularly known as Gen MK and other top government officials to lobby for opportunities for the youth.
“…it’s not about carrying the title of an honorable and presiding over social functions where you are given front seats (high table) but should be about ensuring that our young people are empowered to create wealth…” he said.
Gish also rejected the old fashion idea being fronted by some elements who think and believe that for an MP candidate to win an election, he must first put aside not less than 2billion Uganda shillings.
He says most Ugandans including residents of Jinja City West have become more enlightened that they are not ready or willing to sell their souls to what he terms political merchants.
With reference to the Bible as recorded in Genesis 25: 29-34 where Easu sold his birthright as first born son to his younger brother Jacob because of a bowl of red stew to satisfy his short-term hunger.
“…gone are the days when the Esaus of this generation can sell their birth rights in exchange for a bowl of stew, people are more interested in service delivery than petty things distributed during campaigns…”,Gish explained.
Jinja City West has already attracted more than a dozen politicians who have expressed interest to unseat Dr Timothy Lusala Batuwa in 2026.
These include the former MP Hon Moses Grace Balyeku who is spitting fire to bounce back, Jinja City Council Speaker Bernard Mbayo attached to Najankumbi’s FDC, Uganda’s Deputy Head of Mission to Qatar Hajji Mohammed Baswari Kezaala, NUP Deputy spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, former Jinja District LC5 chairman Lt(Rtd) Hannington Basekana,and Ivan Isiko, among others.
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