Tayebwa asks Mitooma voters to keep Otafiire, stop 'one-term politics'

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Thomas Tayebwa, has lashed at people who are after changing legislators every election cycle.

Tayebwa, also the MP for Ruhinda North, warned that Mitooma District would lose vocal and high-ranking officials in the government beginning with himself as the deputy speaker, Gen Kahinda Otafiire, as the minister of internal affairs (Ruhinda South ), Donozio Kahonda, the Ruhinda County MP and Woman MP Juliet Bashiisha.

“We are lucky to have Gen Otafiire in Cabinet, and that’s a voice for Mitooma as a district, and you want to lose it because you want to change an MP?” Tayebwa said.

The Deputy Speaker's message appears to be well-coordinated from Cabinet with a clamour for the electorate to retain the leaders under the guise of giving more than one term to serve.

Last week, the State Minister for Cooperatives, Mr Fredrick Ngobi, warned voters in Bunyole West constituency in Butaleja District against changing their MPs in every election cycle.

The minister said such a move cripples service delivery in the area since leaders will tend to focus much on short-term political gains rather than long-term developmental projects.

Ahead of the 2026 elections, almost all those who contested and lost in the last election in Bunyole West in Butaleja District have already picked interest in unseating incumbent Geoffrey Mutiwa.

To raise the decibel on the newfound clamour, Mr Tayebwa dispelled rumours of rift Otafiire, saying "some opportunistic people" had used his name to show their relationship was on the rocks.

“Some people were using my name when they heard Gen Otafiire’s words to me some time back to show that I am on their side, No let me tell you I am prepared to advocate for and support Gen Otafiire and I will campaign for him,” Tayebwa said.

Revealing their unity as Mitooma legislators, Tayebwa was paying a courtesy call to the Woman MP Bashiisha who was celebrating a belated Women’s Day in Mitooma on Saturday.

“As current leaders of Mitooma, we will be one the same rally to ask for your votes and we see what those who spread division will say," he said.

"'Obwebembezi ti mpa ndeeseho’ [loosely translated as leadership is not for trial and error], when time comes think twice.”

Tayebwa revealed that President Museveni will visit Mitooma on July 28 on his thanksgiving and his parents' 43-year marriage anniversary as the chief guest.