As the political temperature in Kawempe North rises ahead of the upcoming by-election, allegations have emerged that Independent candidate Hajat Hanifah Karadi—who was part of the ruling National Resistance Movement-NRM’s primaries process—is holding the party and its Chairman, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, at ransom with outrageous demands in exchange for her withdrawal from the race in favor of the official NRM flag bearer, Faridah Nambi.
According to reliable sources, Karadi has made it explicitly clear that she is unwilling to engage with any NRM leaders regarding her potential exit from the race unless she personally negotiates with President Museveni.
She has allegedly disregarded efforts by the NRM Secretary General and even the party’s First National Vice Chairperson, Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo, to engage in discussions. Instead, she has put forward demands that include a staggering payout of 1.8 billion shillings and a ministerial appointment.
A deeper look into Hajat Karadi’s political history raises more questions than answers. Findings indicate that she has never been a resident of Kawempe North. Instead, she has previously contested twice in Mbarara district, further casting doubt on her true interest in representing the people of Kawempe North. If her commitment to the constituency was genuine, why has she only emerged as a contestant now, and under such controversial circumstances?
The allegations surrounding Hajat Karadi’s demands raise critical concerns about the integrity of the upcoming by-election in Kawempe North. If true, they expose a troubling trend of political opportunism, where individuals seek to profit from their temporary influence rather than genuinely serve the people.
As the election date of March 13th draws nearer, the people of Kawempe North deserve transparency and honest leadership, not backdoor deals and financial ransom demands. It remains to be seen whether the NRM leadership will bow to Karadi’s demands or if they will stand firm and expose what could be one of the biggest political manipulations in recent by-election history.
Meanwhile, when our reporter reached out to Hajat Karadi she dismissed the allegations as a mere political smear campaign aimed at derailing her efforts of securing victory in the Kawempe North by-election.
She says the people behind these claims are the ones who were behind what she alleges to be a dubious deal which marred the process of choosing the NRM flag bearer for the by-election, something she can’t be an accomplice to.
The Kawempe North Constituency has for long been a good hunting ground for opposition politicians but this time around the NRM is throwing its weight in the fray to ensure that it produces the successor to the late area Member of Parliament, Muhammad Ssegirinya who died on January 9thh 2025 after battling a long illness.
By Our Reporter
22 February 2025
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