Former minister threatens to withdraw ambulances should he lose elections

Rukiga, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT | Herbert Kabafunzaki, the former Labor, Employment and Industrial Relations State Minister has threatened to withdraw his ambulances as well as stop giving condolence money to families if he loses the election slated for Thursday this week. 

Kabafunzaki, who represents Rukiga County in Parliament, runs two ambulance registration numbers UBA466A and UAU 677X, which he procured in 2017 and 2020 respectively. He also contributes Shillings 30,000 as condolence fees for every person that dies in the county.   The legislator surprised voters in Kamwezi sub-county on Monday when he revealed that he no longer has mercy to people who don’t support him. He had earlier made similar threats in Rwamucucu sub-county a fortnight ago. 

According to Kabafunzaki, he has only opted to help residents who support him politically because he has gained nothing in helping everybody. He revealed that even if he meets any person involved in an accident, he will mind his business because the people of Rukiga have not realized how helpful he has been.

He also described as fools those who criticized him for declining to handover the card of the 

ambulance registration number UAU 677X to Rukiga district local government. 

Kabafunzaki’s threats have drawn mixed reactions from voters. Oliver Kirungi, a resident of Maheru in Rwamucucu sub-county says that however much Kabafunzaki’s ambulances have been helpful, it should not be the only basis for him to compel people to vote for him. Kirungi says that people changed their views on Kabafunzanki, the moment he was implicated in a corruption scandal.

Frank Birungi, another voter from Rwamucucu sub-county, instead supports Kabafunzaki saying that it is very wise to help a few people who love him than many who don’t want him. According to Birungi, voters detest Kabafunzanki simply because he was involved in a corruption scandal. He, however, says this shouldn’t be an issue since the matter is still in court.

Drake Twinomujuni, a resident of Mahura village in Nyakashebeya parish in Kashambya sub-county says Kabafunzaki has resorted to using threats after realizing that he has lost support. Twinomujuni says that it is too late for Kabafunzaki to deceive people of Rukiga that he holds value politically.

Agness Success, another voter from Muhanga town council wonders how Kabafunzaki will identify people who voted for him and those who did not.Success also questions why Kabafunzaki is seeking support from people he calls fools.

Kabafunzaki, who is contesting for a second term as an independent candidate lost to Adson Kakuru, the Presidential Advisor In-charge of Wetlands during the September 2020 NRM party primaries. 

Kabafunzaki started losing ground in April 2017 when he was arrested for allegedly soliciting a Birbe of Shillings 5 million from Muhammad Hamid, the proprietor of Aya Investments to clear him of allegations of sexual harassment. The matter is still in court. He was later dropped from his ministerial post.

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URN