Mercy Nalugo
27 November 2009
Kampala — The Mawokota North MP, Mr Peter Mutuluuza, has vowed to defeat President Museveni's Principal Private Secretary Amelia Kyambadde who has declared interest in unseating him in the 2011 parliamentary elections.
Mr Mutuluuza told Daily Monitor in Kampala on Tuesday that despite Ms Kyambadde's clout especially having worked closely with the President for decades, he had in the past contested and defeated 'other powerful' people.
"I am not scared at all because I have seen it all. Nothing will stop me from standing against Amelia because I know I will still win," he said.
Mr Mutuluuza gave his comments to this newspaper after Ms Kyambadde last week organised a fundraising function in his constituency where she invited prominent tycoons to campaign for her.
Ms Kyambadde also used the ceremony to openly declare her decision to leave that highly-coveted job of PPS and try out a political career by taking over the Mawokota North constituency in Mpigi District where Mr Mutuluuza is the incumbent MP.
Ms Kyambadde, a woman who wields state power, has been laying the foundation for her candidature in the constituency by initiating several development projects which have benefitted the locals there although her critics said she used state resources to gain advantage over her opponent.
But Mr Mutuluuza said he was unfazed by Ms Kyambadde's power and influence because, in 2001, he had been discouraged from standing against the late Zzimula Mugwanya, who was equally powerful and politically connected but that he beat him to every body's surprise.
Mr Mugwanya, son to the late Stanislaus Mugwanya, was former Presidential Advisor and state minister for Local Government from 1996 to 2001. He was also MP for Mawokota North until he lost to Mutuluuza in 2001.
Ms Kyambadde has used her clout to ensure that government-sponsored development programmes take root in the constituency.
When she came under attack for reportedly using government programmes as her own initiatives, President Museveni defended her, saying he had sent her to the constituency to monitor the government programmes in the sub-counties.
Ms Kyambadde has also enlisted the support of her bourgeoisie friends like Sudhir Ruparelia, Gordon Wavamuno and Godfrey Kirumira among others, to financially bolster her political ambition.
Mr Mutuluza denied reports that he had been promised a big job and money to allow Ms Kyambadde take over the constituency.
"But even if there were such offers, I would not take them because I am sure of my support in the area. But all I know is that the President wants to meet the two of us," he said.
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