The Rubanda District Youth Chairperson, Niwagaba Ivan alias Ubican, has joined the race for the Muko Subcounty LC.3 Chairperson seat for the 2026–2031 term.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Niwagaba is set to be nominated for the NRM flag next Tuesday. He will be challenging the incumbent Chairman, Mr. Patrick Abeneitwe alias Mukwate, who has held the position for just five years.
Niwagaba, a resident of Nyarurambi Village in Ikamiro Parish, says his decision to contest was driven by the need to improve infrastructure particularly through the construction and maintenance of feeder roads to enhance market access for local produce. He also aims to strengthen education and healthcare systems within the subcounty.
He accuses the current Chairman, Mr. Abeneitwe, of mismanaging subcounty resources and neglecting vital road maintenance, despite these appearing in annual budget allocations.
“He even sold parts of government land to people living next to the plots in some areas,” Niwagaba alleged, adding, “The subcounty headquarters have lacked a toilet for five years and now, with the term ending, they’re just starting to construct one.”
Niwagaba also claims Mr. Abeneitwe has failed to follow up on district budget allocations due to a strained relationship with the district leadership.
“He lost touch with the district leadership, and that’s why many things aren’t being implemented in the subcounty,” Niwagaba said.
However, in a phone interview, Mr. Abeneitwe dismissed the allegations, attributing them to what he called “lack of information” on the part of the youth leader.
“First of all, he claims I have a poor relationship with the district leadership, but Mr. Stephen Kasyaba (LC.5 Chairman, Rubanda District) is my close friend,” Abeneitwe said. “I led mobilization efforts for his votes in my subcounty, and I also led the team that campaigned for his friend, Minister Henry Musasizi, during the Rubanda District NRM Chairperson election on May 23, 2025.”
Abeneitwe added that due to his strong ties with district administrators, NGOs such as Common Grounds have been deployed in Muko Subcounty, where they’ve implemented various development projects especially in road infrastructure and water accessibility.
“We’ve constructed up to nine gravity water schemes, and by the end of this financial year, we’ll have reached fifteen. NGOs sent to us by the district leadership have been instrumental in this progress,” he noted, adding that his relationship with the Rubanda District leadership has never been compromised.
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He also cited several road projects executed by the Subcounty Local Government, including those in Bigyegye, Karengyere, Mukibaya, Karambo, and Katembe.
“For instance, today we’re opening the Kabaya Haburago road in a place commonly known as Kampala. This road passes in front of Ivan’s home, where there has never been a road before so he’s simply misinformed,” Abeneitwe said.
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Regarding allegations about public land sales, Abeneitwe denied ever selling off government plots.
“Instead, we’ve taken the initiative to gazette and demarcate boundaries for government land. As a gesture of goodwill, we offered free land titles to people neighboring government plots,” he explained, before challenging Niwagaba to identify any specific plot that was sold.
Meanwhile, the Muko Subcounty LC.3 Chairperson race has attracted five new aspirants, including Niwagaba Ivan, Muhawe Christopher, Byereta Wycliff, Muhurizi Innocent, and Kakurungu Zaverio.
All candidates are expected to be nominated on Tuesday next week, ahead of the NRM flag bearer election scheduled for August 15, 2025.
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