{UAH} Allan/Pojim/WBK: Kahonda: Otafiire will get 10% votes
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Otafiire will get 10% votes
CAPT (RTD) DONONZIO MUGABE KAHONDA, upset a political titan in Justice minister Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire to become NRM flag bearer for the Ruhinda County parliamentary seat in last year's primaries.
The victory was high on drama because Kahonda pulled it off from behind bars at Kirinya prison in Jinja. In this interview conducted last week, Kahonda told Edris Kiggundu why he is confident he will defeat Otafiire who has represented the area for 20 years and is standing as an independent. Below are excerpts:
Are you not scared of the challenge posed by Otafiire?
I do not fear him. In fact he should be negotiating with the NRM chairman [President Museveni] to stand down. Let him come; he will face it. I will beat him. Apart from coming back as an independent, he has nothing new to add to the constituency.
He cannot stand here and say that he has done ABCD or that so and so has been connected to a job through him. This is somebody who was against the creation of our district and a new constituency. What is new that he has introduced in Ruhinda for the last 20 years he has spent in parliament?
But I can see these power lines, the health centres and schools.
No, it is not him who brought this power. It is government. Is he the one who represents Karamoja where there is electricity? In Ruhinda, some places do not even have power. Let him give us the programmes that he has personally initiated for the people of Mitooma for the last 20 years.
Otafiire seems to have spared no resource to ensure that he bounces back. He has a number of mini vans doing mobilization work.
That is something interesting. The people of Ruhinda are beyond voting for money. He is also slaughtering cows for people. He bought many vans each worth Shs 30 million.
Can't he initiate a project using this money? Can't he initiate a project that can benefit the widows and orphans in this constituency? I urge the people of Ruhinda to be calm and maintain the peace.
Where do you draw your strength and conviction?
My strength is that I have the masses. I have the people. There are projects that I have done for the people of Mitooma and people have confidence in me.
What are these projects?
I have initiated a solar power project in many sub-counties. I have also started piggery projects and sports for the youths. I have sensitized people about the impact of HIV/Aids in Mitooma. I have connected the youths to jobs.
You still have the court matter about your academic qualification...
The court case is different from politics. But I can assure you that I have the qualifications that allow me to participate in parliamentary politics. Some people thought they would disqualify me but because I have the qualifications, I will not be disqualified. Even now there are some petitions from Otafiire and some other people purporting to be voters in Mitooma.
What score do you expect to get in the elections?
I will defeat him, terribly with over 90%.
ekiggundu@observer.ug
(Otafiire declined to be interviewed – Editor.)
http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/42271-kahonda-otafiire-will-get-10-votes
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