In Kampala, pastor Franklin Mondo donates a vehicle to independent presidential candidate John Katumba

Kampala city pastor Franklin Mondo Mugisha has offered a vehicle to aid the movement of independent presidential candidate John Katumba as he traverses the country to woo voters.

It comes a few days after Uganda’s youngest presidential candidate started complaining that he lacks a vehicle to use for his countrywide campaign tours.

The 24-year-old pleaded with the Electoral Commission to allow him to use the truck provided for his security detail in vain. In a recent interview with URN, Katumba said he was considering using boda bodas and taxis for his movements should he fail to secure a vehicle.

However, Mondo of Empowerment Christian Prayer Center International offered Katumba a Super Custom van, saying that Katumba is his spiritual son, who he doesn’t want to see lamenting over something he could easily offer.

“He is my spiritual son and that vehicle will help him look for votes,” he told URN.

He noted that he is very much aware that a Super Custom might not be the most suitable vehicle for campaigns and is still looking for an alternative. Conversely, Katumba had already told the Electoral Commission that even if he got a vehicle, he might not be able to afford to fuel it. But Mondo says he has offered the candidate the vehicle with some fuel to run him for some days.

“That is the start, I have given him a vehicle and some fuel. We shall see what will happen later. But at least he can start his campaign,” said Mondo.

Marvin Konde, Katumba’s campaign team member, says the help comes in handy as they were already puzzled about how to start the campaign.

“Now Ugandans should just wait for us in their areas we are coming. We will start at Nakasongola,” he said.

Before the October 2015 amendments of the Presidential Elections Act, Electoral Commission would provide each presidential candidate with Shs 100 million (in-kind), an official car, and double-cabin truck for their security detail. However, the provision was scrapped on account of locking out ‘jokers’ from the presidential contest. This time around, the candidates were only given a double-cabin truck for their security detail.

After receiving the vehicle, Katumba, who chose a table as his campaign symbol started his campaign in Nakasongola. He had initially planned to start from Luweero district but his program collided with that of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidate, Yoweri Tibahaburwa Kaguta Museveni.

The other candidates are Gregg Mugisha Muntu from the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of National Unity Platform (NUP), Patrick Oboi Amuriat, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and Democratic Party’s Nobert Mao. The others are independent candidates; Henry Tumukunde Kakurugu, Willy Mayambala, Fred Mwesigye, Nancy Linda Kalembe and Joseph Kabuleta.

WARM WELCOMEKatumba was warmly welcomed this afternoon in Nakasongola town. At about 4 pm, Katumba arrived in Nakasongola town council aboard the Super Custom donated to him earlier today by pastor Mondo. Katumba who had no designated place for a rally alighted from the Super Custom and decided to address residents at Nakasongola taxi parking yard.

However, police officers commanded by Nakasongola district police commander (DPC) Patience Ninsiima ordered him to look for a better venue and he decided to walk through the town while waving to residents.

The excited residents donated food and an unspecific amount of money to help him buy fuel for the car to continue with the campaigns. He also visited market vendors in Nakasongola market and asked them to vote for him. Sam Mukasa, a resident in Nakasongola town is among those who donated cash to Katumba saying he was a courageous young man who decided to challenge the incumbent.

Others said that they decided to donate after hearing reports that Katumba was struggling financially to sustain his campaigns, unlike other candidates. Katumba later addressed residents through UBC Buruuli FM, a government radio station for four minutes before he proceeded to Masindi.

Katumba asked residents to vote for him so as to help them address the poor road network to enable them to transport their heads of cattle to markets. He also promised to construct more health centres to benefit the community and empower youths to get jobs.

Katumba is expected to campaign in Masindi on Tuesday. Nakasongola boasts of 2,689.43 kilometres of road network including trunk, feeder and community roads but many remain impassable, especially during the rainy season. The area is dominated by pastoralists.