Amelia Kyambadde, President Museveni’s Principal Private Secretary, has started canvassing for the Mawokota North parliamentary seat at least ten months before official campaigns kick off.

Kyambadde has already circulated colourful posters in Mawokota North. The posters have a catchy slogan “Mawokota Etokota” (Mawokota is fired up) at the bottom.

A portrait photo showing a grinning Kyambadde fills three quarters of the poster. Below it, is the national flag and on the right hand side is the NRM yellow bus logo.

Perhaps because she realises it’s not yet campaign time, Kyambadde’s posters don’t indicate the exact constituency she is interested in - Mawokota North –neither do they directly ask for votes.

Nevertheless, it leaves no one in doubt as to her intentions. When this writer was in the constituency last week during a visit by President Museveni, a number of young men and women were distributing the posters.

Kyambadde wants to stand on the NRM ticket. The constituency is currently represented by Peter Mutuluza. Besides the posters, The Observer has learnt that Kyambadde has gotten musician Dr. Hilderman, aka Hilary Kiyagga, to compose a campaign song for her. Dr. Hilderman confirmed to The Observer that his song Amelia, which is already rocking the airwaves, had been inspired by the President’s Principal Private Secretary.
Kyambadde and Dr. Hilderman hail from the same village in Mawokota.

During President Museveni’s visit to assess NAADS projects in Mpigi District last week, Kyambadde got a shot in the arm moving with the President through Mawokota North, among other areas.

During a rally at Kamengo, Kyambadde’s supporters arrived in a convoy of Pajero vehicles with the occupants chanting her name and raising dust.
Meanwhile, the posters caused excitement amongst the people gathered for the rally, with some debating what her slogan actually means.

With the word okutokota literally meaning to boil, the slogan simply suggests that Mawokota is fired up and gearing up for new leadership.
The incumbent MP, Peter Mutuluza, who is also a member of NRM, was only left to complain to the President.

“Mr. President, advise some people because they will embarrass themselves. The people of Mawokota still want me and they are not ready to vote me out of power,” he told Museveni who laughed off the claim.

Kyambadde recently invited President Museveni to open a road in Kamengo. President Museveni told the crowd at Muduuma Seed School that Kyambadde had exposed the corruption in the construction of this road. The 20 - kilometre road stretches from Kamengo to Buvumbo landing site.

He says that the Chief Administrative Officer of Mpigi District, Henry Makumbi, had told him the road required Shs 360 million to construct.
But thanks to Kyambadde’s intervention, it was done at Shs 292 million less.

“It was completed with only Shs 68 million and we saved money that can construct five other roads,” Museveni told the gathering.
Kyambadde’s move to invite the President to open the road last year, while Mutuluza was reportedly on a trip abroad, presents her as the person who made it all possible. Indeed many people in Mawokota now believe that she fixed the road.

Kyambadde is also involved in poverty eradication programmes, and infrastructure development. Recently, she helped secure sponsorship for five students to acquire leadership skills training in South Korea. Kyambadde’s interest in this constituency became known publicly after she paraded Kampala tycoons there during a fundraising exercise last year.

Kyambadde’s decision to print and distribute campaign posters before the campaign period has been gazetted, and while still serving in a public office is seen by critics as illegal.

Article 4(4) of the Parliamentary Elections Act says: “Under the multiparty political system, a public officer or a person employed in any government department or agency of the government or an employee of a local government or anybody in which the government has controlling interest who wishes to stand for election as a Member of Parliament shall in the case of a general election resign his or her office at least 90 days before nomination day.”

Indeed Kyambadde has often declined media interview requests, reasoning that she is still a public servant. According to State House sources, Kyambadde intends to resign from her job next month.

CBS APPEAL

Meanwhile, the closure of Buganda Kingdom-owned CBS radio continues to become a source of embarrassment for President Museveni. During his visit to Mpigi last week, many people he met were asking for the radio closed at the height of the September 2009 riots to be reopened.
“We don’t want anything else, you can leave the electricity and the water, just give us CBS back. We want our radio back,” one peasant pleaded.

Clearly taken aback by the request, Museveni said Mengo must first fulfil all the conditions put forward by his Cabinet. The conditions include relocating the radio station from Bulange, the official seat of the kingdom.

“Everyone is governed by laws. CBS cannot act like they are not under any law. They cannot go on saying anything they want,” Museveni told the crowd.
“Even as president I follow laws.

How about a mere radio station? Leave CBS to me and the Kabaka, we shall solve that one.”
Museveni crowned his visit by touring a few NAADS beneficiaries in Gomba, Butambala, Bulo, Kamengo, and Buwama areas.

Like in Buikwe, which he had earlier visited, residents of Mpigi complained that NAADS is not benefiting those it was meant for. The poor people say that the officers are using the money to open up their own farms.

Museveni, who continues to vow that 2010 is a year for fighting poverty and corruption, added that he will not stand anyone who swindles money meant for poor people.

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