By Joseph Masereka
KNOW YOUR CANDIDATE
Journalist Patrick Kyamanduma aka Kabukabu, a Lhukonzo news anchor at Kasese Guide Radio has announced he will be running to wrestle the Bukonzo County West parliamentary seat from incumbent Atkins Katusabe.
Katusabe is increasingly getting under pressure as Kyamanduma joins a growing list of politicians who have expressed interest in his Bukonzo West seat.
Others who are said to be interested in the position are former Defence Minister Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga and minister of state for ICT Godfrey Kabyanga Kime.
Kyamanduma is from the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), meaning he will first face off with Katusabe in the party primaries to earn the flag to contest in the 2026 parliamentary polls.
Born to Fr. Selevest Bwambale (RIP) and Suzan Biira in 1994 in Kyaminyawandi village, Bukangara parish Nyakiyumbu sub-county, Bukonzo West County Kasese district, Kyamanduma is a professional Journalist and medical practitioner working with Kasese Guide Radio (KGR) as news anchor, talk show host and presenter.
Born from a relatively low-income family, Kyamanduma did not attend the best schools. He attended Kyaminyawandi Primary School in Nyakiyumbu sub-county for primary level, Bwera Secondary School for his O-Level, Rwenzori High school where he did a Physics, Chemistry Biology/ Agriculture (PCB/A) combination for his A- level. All these schools are found in Kasese District.
Kyamanduma proceeded to Kampala International University (KIU) for a diploma in medicine, and to Makerere University for a degree in Journalism and communication.
Kyamanduma has been pursuing his political career over the years, right from his school days. Throughout his education journey, he had his leadership skills sharpened and he has now decided to test the waters of national politics. And he is confident he will give established politicians a run for their money.
While at Kyaminyawandi Primary School, he was a debate prefect in P5 and later Head Prefect. At Bwera SS, Kyamanduma was famous for his great skills during debates. He was also academic prefect at this school.
At Rwenzori High School, he became Head Prefect where he broke the record because he was new in the school, having been there a few weeks.
At Kampala International University, he was elected a representative of students to the guild council.
In 2016, Kyamanduma tentatively left politics and joined church and Radio work. He became Public Relations Officer for Bukangara Parish working under the communications office for the Diocese of Kasese.
Again under diocese of Kasese or DOK, he is currently the executive member of justice and peace, and a parliamentary officer in liaisons office of the DOK.
He has also taught in various schools, including Shakwera Model Nursery and Primary School, Kanyambara PS, St. John’s Bukangara PS, Bukangara Childcare Nursery and Primary School and Mungunyu Secondary School, all in Bukonzo West County.
Kyamanduma also worked at Kasese Hospital in Kasese Municipality.
Politics
Kyamanduma’s urge to join politics can be traced way back in primary school when the then MP Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga promised that he would put in place an irrigation dam on River Bukangara but later failed.
“Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga lied to us while I was still in primary that he was going to put a dam on Bukangara and failed. That only sparked my anger and I started thinking about becoming MP,’’ Kyamanduma told The Pearl Times.
Even when his father was a great supporter of Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM), Kyamanduma did not like the party because he believed its leaders told lies and were corrupt.
From 2012- 2016, Kyamanduma was a parish councilor representing Nyakiyumbu parish at the sub-county on FDC ticket. He served as leader of opposition in the council.
Kyamanduma, who accuses the current and previous Bukonzo West MPs of playing immature politics characterized by lies, is very optimistic that once he assumes office, he will convince government to establish a fish market in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Town council in order to overcome challenges faced by Ugandan fish traders in DRC.
According to him, this would ensure employment opportunities and improve livelihoods of the people of Kasese and other Ugandans.
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