In Uganda’s ever-evolving political terrain—where shifting alliances, deep-rooted loyalties, and electoral fatigue often complicate the democratic experience—emerges a story that defies all odds: the ascent of Eunice Namatende, known fondly as Umeme Masanhalaze.
Her recent landslide victory in the Bugiri NRM primaries doesn’t just mark the climax of an ambitious campaign—it marks a generational breakthrough. After four decades of yearning, effort, heartbreak, and resolve, Bugiri may finally witness the culmination of her relentless pursuit of public service.
Her saga began in 2006 when a 19-year-old Namatende—bold, idealistic, and fiercely committed—stepped into the national spotlight, contesting for the Woman MP seat under the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Her opponent? Justine Kasule Lumumba, a seasoned incumbent and then-NRM Secretary General. The loss was predictable, but the impression Namatende made was not. She was young, electric, and passionate—and she wasn’t going anywhere.
She returned to the polls in 2011, then in 2016, when Lumumba’s elevation to Secretary General vacated the seat. Again, she contested—again, she lost. In 2018, she took on the Bugiri Municipality by-election against Asuman Basalirwa of JEEMA, and in 2021 she challenged again for the Woman MP seat. Each campaign drew crowds, each defeat came down to narrow margins, and each loss left Bugiri more aware of the woman who refused to be written off.
“It doesn’t matter how many times you fall. What matters is how many times you stand up, shake it off and move forward,” she once declared—and her life is a living embodiment of those words.
In 2023, her transformation became national headline. Namatende made the seismic shift from opposition stalwart to ruling party candidate, defecting from the FDC and joining the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Political purists raised eyebrows, but strategic minds nodded in approval.
The move wasn’t just political—it was tactical, and deeply personal. Her longtime associate, Solomon Silwany, Bukooli Central MP, persistently lured her into the ruling fold, convinced her empathy and tenacity could reshape Bugiri’s landscape. And when she crossed into NRM, she was ceremoniously received by Capt. Mike Mukula, the party’s Eastern Region Vice Chairperson, who hailed her as a “big fish” whose arrival would inject fresh energy into the movement.
This alliance gave her access to powerful campaign structures, wider platforms, and a revitalized voter base. Her victory in the primaries was not just a political win—it was vindication.
Educated at Makerere University (Bachelor of Social Sciences) and Uganda Christian University (Master of Public Administration), Namatende brought more than charisma to the race. Early in her career, she served as a program officer for a safe motherhood initiative and as a water-sanitation consultant, experiences that grounded her policy proposals in real-world challenges. That blend of academic rigor and fieldwork informs her platform and gives her a clear vision for tackling maternal health, clean water access, and community-based governance.
Her mentors offer insights into her rise. Silwany reflects, “From our first meeting, I was struck by her analytical mind and deep compassion for the people of Bugiri.” Mukula adds, “Eunice brings fresh vision to NRM and embodies the party’s promise of inclusive leadership.” Their backing underscores a critical lesson in politics: the right alliances can amplify a leader’s impact.
Political analysts believe Namatende’s combination of education, NGO experience, and grassroots tenacity sets her apart. Dr. Grace Aciro of Busoga University notes, “Her background gives her instant credibility on issues like maternal mortality—where Uganda still records one of the highest rates in the region—and on water security, which remains a daily struggle for many households.”
Umeme Masanhalaze isn’t just a nickname—it’s her identity. She delivers speeches like sermons, weaving Busoga idioms, biblical references, and fiery rhetoric into rallying cries that electrify crowds. As a pastor’s wife, she carries spiritual gravitas; as a community advocate, she carries real-life stories of mothers who lost children to preventable causes and villages parched for lack of clean water.
Her campaign style is equally magnetic. In an era of motorcades and megaphones, Namatende prefers walking on foot, engaging directly with constituents, sitting in mud huts, and greeting elders with respect. “We’ll leave the vehicles at the campaign bureau and walk on foot to meet the people where they are,” she says. “That helps us get up close and personal.”
Looking ahead to the 2025 general elections, Namatende has pledged a bold, people-centered agenda. She promises to champion:
- – Education reform with better teacher pay, modern classrooms, and textbooks for every student.
- – Safe motherhood programs that equip clinics with lifesaving tools and train midwives district-wide.
- – Clean drinking water initiatives, expanding boreholes and pushing for community-run treatment facilities.
- – Healthcare revitalization, from hospital staffing to an unbroken drug supply chain.
- – Proximity governance—leaders who listen as much as they legislate.
From a data perspective, Namatende’s trajectory shows consistent growth: narrowing vote margins in each contest until her 2023 primary trounced all expectations. Analysts point not only to her switch to NRM but to her unrelenting focus on service as the engines of her momentum.
Raised in Bugiri and molded by years of civil society advocacy, Namatende has stood by communities through floods, market demolitions, school crises, and health emergencies—showing up even when cameras weren’t rolling. Her story offers vital lessons:
- – Never confuse defeat for failure—every setback is a rehearsal for something greater.
- – Realignment doesn’t mean betrayal—it can be the rebirth of purpose.
- – Branding and voice matter—because Umeme Masanhalaze is a movement, not a moniker.
- – Service begins with proximity—real leadership listens first.
- – Trust the long road—some victories are built inch by inch.
If elected in 2025, Namatende will not just be Bugiri’s Woman MP—she will be its story. A symbol of grit. A reflection of a community’s stubborn hope. A reminder that in a system that rarely rewards perseverance, sometimes persistence rewrites the ending.
The voltage of Umeme Masanhalaze now hums louder than ever. And if the current continues to flow, Parliament may soon echo with her electric voice.
The writer is the Asst RCC Nyendo Mukungwe in Masaka City
