Paul Baite promises people-centred representation in Bukono after getting NRM flag nomination

Seasoned golfer and surveyor, Paul Bajje Baite, has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the Bukono Constituency parliamentary seat, securing his nomination as a candidate in the ongoing National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries. The election for the coveted NRM flag is scheduled for July 16, 2025.

Baite, an alumnus of Aberdeen University in Scotland and son of veteran politician and respected figure in Busoga, Baite Munobwa, hails from Ivukula Town Council. He enters the political arena with a clear vision, pledging to lead a development-focused and people-centred campaign aimed at revitalizing the prospects of the Bukono Constituency.

Speaking after his nomination on Tuesday afternoon, Baite passionately appealed to voters in the Namutumba district-based constituency for their trust, promising representation anchored in tangible service delivery. “There is a need to address the gap between the current representative and the residents, who have become political orphans and have been reduced to recipients of stipends for survival. Most of the constituency’s needs have been ignored. That has to change,” he declared amidst fervent cheers from his supporters.

Central to Baite’s manifesto is a commitment to tackling poverty, which he states continues to afflict over 50% of the constituency’s population. He also highlighted the critical need for improved access to clean water, revealing that he has already successfully lobbied for the provision of piped water to the area. On the education front, Baite promised to actively seek global partnerships to enhance the performance of schools within Bukono.

Furthermore, Baite pledged to champion the effective implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), a government initiative designed for poverty eradication and socio-economic transformation. He expressed concern that the PDM’s benefits are currently not reaching all constituents equally, often favouring supporters of the incumbent. Baite vowed to ensure the program’s wider reach, benefiting all households.

This commitment resonates with President Museveni’s recent address in Kalamira (Namutumba District) in January 2025, where he reaffirmed his dedication to wealth creation and noted the transformative impact of the PDM on lives in Busoga. The President’s advice to PDM beneficiaries—to “jealously guard the programme” and choose ventures with high returns to “chase away poverty”—underscores the importance of Baite’s pledge to ensure equitable access to such initiatives.

Baite’s candidacy has been met with considerable enthusiasm, particularly from constituents weary of what they describe as persistent empty rhetoric and “lip service” from past representatives. His political aspirations are also bolstered by the considerable influence and deep understanding of Busoga politics and kingdom affairs possessed by his father, Mr. Baite Munobwa.

The Bukono Constituency, encompassing Nangonde TC, Ivukula TC, and Kibale TC, along with the sub-counties of Nangonde, Ivukula, Kibale, and Nabweyo, is poised for a competitive NRM primary. The frontrunners for the party ticket include Paul Baite and the incumbent Member of Parliament, Hon. Persis Namuganza. Other notable contenders vying for the NRM flag are Hajji Siraj Kirya Gusongoire and Emmanuel Maganda Katoko.