After declining to accept the offer of mediating former political friends turned enemies Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi the National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy president in charge of Buganda and the Democratic Front (DF) founding president and also former Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, veteran journalist and friends of the two politicians Peter Kibazo has said that he cannot accept the offer because their other friends have failed.
Veteran celebrated Human Rights lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuzi pleaded with Kibazo to mediate the two groups on grounds that he has been their friend since the 1990s and they respect him.
However, when he was turning down the offer, Kibazo revealed that his other friends like veteran New Vision Editor John Kakande and Haruna Kanabi tried to mediate the said politicians but they failed.
Kibazo a veteran political journalist practicing with Radio Simba is seen as a suitable person to mediate the warring parties because he has been with them since the days of the late Dr Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere when they were both strong supporters of the Democratic Party.
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Highly placed sources close to the fighting politicians have revealed that the only remaining politicians who can mediate the two opposition politicians will either be Owekitiibwa Charles Peter Mayiga or Owekitiibwa Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemogerere.
The situation worsened when Mukono Municipality legislator Betty Nambooze Bakireke declared that she was assigned by Kivumbi and other party leaders to make sure that Mpuuga is defeated in Nyendo-Mukungwe where is currently vying to be re-elected as the area Member of Parliament together with his political allies Kimanya-Kabonera’s Abed Bwanika and Masaka city’s woman Member of Parliament Juliet Kakande
While defending his principal, Moses Kasibante the DF spokesperson accused Nambooze of being a political fraudster.
Kasibante narrated how Nambooze registered herself as a legislator with a body disability and was assigned two personal assistants with each getting a monthly salary of Shs8m.
Kasibante said that to make matters worse, Nambooze registered her relatives to get the jobs in government.
He also wondered how a person with disabilities is able to jump up and down at a political rally out of excitement.
He added that Mpuuga’s political enemies especially Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), David Lewis Rubongoya and other leaders in NUP are using Nambooze and Kivumbi to finish all capable leaders in Buganda to settle their personal score against him.
Kasibante said that he was shocked when Kivumbi failed to help his longtime personal friend and lawyer Medard Lubega Ssegona to get NUP ticket for Busiro East and instead looked on as the card was being given to musician Mathias Walukagga.
He warned that Kivumbi would be the last person to betray Mpuuga and Ssegona.
“I remember very well when Ssegona used his personal money to facilitate witnesses who were going to defend Kivumbi’s case when he was defending his victory which was stolen. He was the one who even bought food for the client (Kivumbi). Imagine a lawyer buying food for his client,” Kasibante said
He further undressed Nambooze when he revealed that in 2016, she pocketed Shs50m from former Prime Minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi who was contesting for presidency. Kasibante said that this money was given to Nambooze to organize a political rally for Amama in Mukono.
He divulged that after she mismanaged the money and failed to pull the crowds, Nambooze ran into hiding.
Kasibante also disclosed that when opposition strongman Kizza Besigye was going to Mukono, Nambooze decided to jump onto his political bandwagon to survive Mbabazi embarrassment.
However, Besigye supporters were bitter with her because she betrayed him and it was Kira Municipality legislator Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda who saved her.
Kasibante added that when Nambooze was arrested on corruption related charges and imprisoned, it was Mpuuga and Sseggona who saved her as Rubongoya was spying on opposition working for Museveni, now he is using her to fight her old friends.
However, Kivumbi said that he is not going to be diverted by undermining political statements from DF politicians.
Kivumbi disclosed that he is in the middle of the fight to make sure that NUP wins all political offices in Buganda region because it is his area of jurisdiction in this election and he does not regret declaring war on Mpuuga for the good of his NUP party.
He explained that he doesn’t have any personal war with Mpuuga and his allies. According to Kivumbi, they are differing on principal issues as they each try to win support for their parties in this heated political season.
He also explained that Mpuuga accepted to be bribed with Shs500m service award from Museveni through Annet Anita Among the Speaker of parliament who was thanking him for being cooperative during the time he was leading opposition in parliament.
