Recently there been reports that yet again the government of Uganda has decided to split a certain numbers of counties into 39 new counties and in the end make the total amount of Member of Parliament (MPs) to 424 (Kisakye, 2015). This can only been seen as a calculated plan to gain more MPs by the government party to reign over this new counties. I will go through who will have to fight for new constituency and votes in newly created counties that the government wishes. This will be after the list that was on the Observer. I will take district after district. An over time I think you’ll see a pattern.
Agago County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| John Amos Okot | NRM |
| Judith Franca Akello | FDC |
Amuria County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Francis Musa Ecweru | NRM |
Manjiya County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| David Wakikona | NRM |
Bukedea County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| George Stephen Ekuma | NRM |
| Rose Akol Okullu | NRM |
Bukomansimbi County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Deogratius (Deo) Kiyingi | DP |
| Susan Namaganda | DP |
Bulambuli County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Irene Nafuna Muloni | NRM |
| Midimi Wamakuyu | NRM |
Dokolo County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Felix Okot Ogong | NRM |
| Cecilla Barbera Atim Ogwal | FDC |
Gomba County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Rosemary Muyinda Najjemba | NRM |
| Kyabangi Katusiime Nakato | NRM |
Kilak County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Gilbert Olanya | Independent |
| Betty Bigombe Atuku | NRM |
Dodoth East – Kaabong County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Samson Lokeris | NRM |
Bulamogi County – Kaliro District MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Kenneth Lubago | Independent |
| Flavia Nabugere | NRM |
Kibuku County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Moses Saleh Wilson Kamba | NRM |
| Sarah Mwebaza Wanene | NRM |
Nyabushozi County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Fred Mwesigye | NRM |
| Beatrice Rusaniya Namala Barumba | NRM |
Kibanda County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Sam Owor Amooti Otada | Independent |
| Helen Kahunde | NRM |
Chua County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Henry Okello Oryem | NRM |
| Beatrice Anywar Atim | FDC |
Kole County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Fred Ebil | UPC |
| Joy Ruth Acheng | UPC |
Kumi County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Patrick Oboi Amuriat | FDC |
| Christine Hellen Amongin Aporu | NRM |
Kiboga West County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Samuel Ssemugaba | NRM |
| Ann Maria Nankabirwa | NRM |
Kyaka County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| William Ngabu Kwemara | NRM |
| Flavia Kabahenda Rwabuhoro | NRM |
Mwenge North County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| David Muhumuza | NRM |
Luuka County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| John B. Ngobi Bagoole | Independent |
| Evelyn Naome Mpagni N. Kaabule | NRM |
Maracha County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Alex Onzima | Independent |
| Ruth Molly Ondoru Lematia | NRM |
Kashari County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Yaguma Wilberforce | NRM |
Ruhinda County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Kahinda Otafiire | NRM |
| Jovah Kamateeka | NRM |
Matheniko County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Dr. John Baptist Lokii | NRM |
Aruu County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| CD Oketayot Lowila | NRM |
| Samuel Otto Odonga | FDC |
Kooki County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Amos Mandera | NRM |
Mawogola County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Sam Kahamba Kutesa | NRM |
| Anifa Kawooya Bangirana | NRM |
Soroti County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Michael George Mukula | NRM |
| Peter Omolo | FDC |
| Angelline Osegge | FDC |
Okoro County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Stanley Oribdhogu Omwonya | NRM |
Butebo County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Stephen Oscar Malinga | NRM |
Tororo County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Geofrey Ekanya | FDC |
Kibaale County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Frank Kagyigyi Tumwebaze | NRM |
Aringa County MPs: (Will be three more districts)
| Who? | Party: |
| Achile Manoah Mile | UPC |
| Abason Huda Oleru | NRM |
Bugahya County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| James Kiiza Rwebembera | NRM |
Koboko County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Ahmed Awongo | NRM |
| Margreth Diri Bara | NRM |
Kassanda County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Godfrey Lubega | Independent |
| Thembo George William Nyombi | NRM |
East Moyo County MPs:
| Who? | Party: |
| Moses Ali | NRM |
| Jesica Ababiku | Independent |
In numbers of the MPs that is on the line and getting new districts to get votes for re-elections in the 2016 elections. This here will be decisive for them. AS you can see that even some district has big birds and people who have been in the wind for a long time like Otafiire from Ruhinda County. But now let me show the numbers:
| Party: | Total MPs: | Percentage: |
| NRM (National Resistance Movement) | 45 | 69% |
| FDC (Forum for Democratic Change) | 8 | 12% |
| DP (Democratic Party) | 2 | 3% |
| UPC (Uganda People’s Congress) | 3 | 4.6% |
| Independent | 7 | 10.7% |
| Total Sum of MPS: | 65 | 100% |
This should be call on how the NRM wish to split the votes in certain areas so that they can eat more of the votes in next election. That they can take more of the independent votes and also from the opposition parties like FDC.
Let me show the areas that are being split not just name of main counties. Since Uganda has been split to smaller and smaller fractions and now is hard to remember where the “original” bigger counties where before they got into the humongous number of 424. So let see here:
| Part of the Country | Total Couties: |
| Buganda | VI – 6 |
| Ankole | IIII – 4 |
| Kigezi | 0 – 0 |
| Toro | II – 2 |
| Bunyoro | II – 2 |
| Acholi | VI – 6 |
| West Nile | IIII – 4 |
| Lango | II – 2 |
| Karamoja | I – 1 |
| Teso | III – 3 |
| Sebei | 0 – 0 |
| Bugisha | 0 – 0 |
| Bukedi | II – 2 |
| Busoga | V – 5 |
| Total Counties: | 37 |
(Aringa County will become three counties – North/South and Yumbe)
Numbers game:
If you can quickly see it’s the central regions that have a certain level of changes like in the Ankole, Busoga, Bunyoro and Buganda. The number of counties which is changing in the central/eastern is 17 of 39. Other areas that are also getting a renovation from the government are the Acholi, West Nile and Karamoja which is the Northern parts of Uganda. The total of areas that will be changed is 13 of 39. Those total 30 of the 39. So it’s easily to see where the main changes are happening. Sometimes in the heartland of the opposition parties than in the Movement territory, so if you think otherwise. Look at the numbers and see even if this is going after 69% of the MPs are NRM. We all know that around Mbale and up north has voted for DP more than NRM in history. FDC is also gaining more grown in eastern, central and western areas. Therefore NRM fearing this, FDC candidate even won in Amuru by-election in November 2014. So that the Government is making a change in the districts around isn’t surprising. But let’s look at the other part of this changes that I haven’t touched on yet. Not the number game, but the real election game.
Election game:
This strategy is amazing. The way you split counties to reassure and get more loyalty from the new LDC then before. Therefore doing this so close to the election makes the 40 new counties and 40 new MPs. Also open up new constituency and voter’s numbers that need to be secure to get the MP for a county in. Thirdly and last point is that the history of voting in an area get diminish because the new counties. This will lead to smaller counties and need less people to vote the MP in the area. That can be either a gift or a curse. That the counties are getting to be smaller populations so that their easier to manipulate since their no current voting history in this counties. So that the loyalist will get more positions during next elections and also getting new LDCs that will supposedly to give the local community more control and also support the governments work in the areas. Like getting supervision over the primary school and police I guess. But we all know that this is more securing the NRM government more control over the areas and getting the loyal supporters of the Mzee becoming MPs and also making new counties to disfranchise the opposition if possible. That this areas are also in places where the Independent MPs are coming from and just a few big shots like Kahinda Otafiire. I look forward to see the results from the Presidential General Election of 2016. Hope you do as well in the new counties and see if the MPs from the 9th Parliament will arrive from the new counties.
Just a by the way – on the information flow:
The irony of it all, I couldn’t find the MPs on the Parliaments own site or government official sites online. I found the best by the sites that are targeted by the government. Like the lists from Uganda at Heart had an awesome and amazing list. Second list was from an anti-corruption NGO from Uganda. So the one that isn’t supposed to be friendly with the government is the one that has organized it the best and that is a rare instance. Because a brother expect to easily see who represent them. Taxation with representation, the parliament page of the Ugandan government isn’t sufficient or a page that is really working. Hope that Hostalite and make them a better page indeed. And the Parliament Watch site was ten times better. Where I could double check the result of the General Election of 2011 was from the elected MPs from the Electoral Commission of Uganda. I am grateful that one supposed to be unbiased governmental institution has certain information to the public so I could verify what I found at Uganda at Heart and also the information from Parliamentary Watch. Thanks! Peace.
Reference:
Kisakye, Frank – ‘Govt creates 39 new counties, number of MPs rises to 424’ (15.07.2015) Link: http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/38782-govt-creates-39-new-counties-mps-rise-to-424
MinBane 