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A strong message of unity, reconciliation and service has been sounded by Kashari South MP-elect Rtd. Capt. John Bosco Bamuturaki Tumusiime, who has warned leaders across Mbarara and Kashari to drop endless politicking and get down to the real work of transforming people’s lives.
Speaking in a congratulatory message to the Muslim faithful following the successful completion of Ramadan, Bamuturaki used the moment to call for calm and maturity in a region still simmering with political tension.
“We cannot keep in politics all the time. This is the time for service delivery, this is time for getting back to work for our communities’ transformation. Politics has its time, it has its calendar, it has its agenda. When it’s done, we go back and fend for our families and communities,” Bamuturaki said firmly.
The retired army officer turned politician stressed that elections are now behind the people, and what lies ahead is the real test of leadership — delivering results, not trading insults or deepening divisions.
“Unity is paramount. Leaders must reconcile with the people, regardless of who supported them, their religion or tribal background. This is the time to work together,” he added.
Bamuturaki also urged believers across different faiths — including Muslims and Christians observing Lenten seasons — to maintain the discipline, humility and values demonstrated during the fasting period, warning against using religion as a dividing line in leadership.
“Let us not use religion as a yardstick for leadership. What matters now is social and economic transformation,” he emphasized.
His message comes at a time when political tensions in Mbarara District remain dangerously high, threatening to overshadow the post-election recovery phase.
At the centre of the storm is a bitter dispute between Woman MP-elect Loyda Kyarikunda Muhimbura and incumbent Margaret Rwebyambu Ayebare, whose fallout has now spilled into the courts. Rwebyambu recently petitioned the High Court, challenging the academic credentials submitted by Loyda during her nomination process — a move that has ignited heated debates across the district.
“This fight is dividing people,” a local resident said. “Instead of leaders focusing on development, everyone is now arguing about politics again.”
The court battle has deepened political camps, with supporters on both sides digging in, raising fears that reconciliation may not come easily.
But Bamuturaki appears determined to steer the conversation in a different direction — away from conflict and toward cooperation.
“There should not be more political conflicts or fights. This is the time to engage, to dialogue, and to serve all people equally,” he said.
As Mbarara grapples with post-election tensions and rising expectations from voters, Bamuturaki’s message lands as both a warning and a challenge to fellow leaders: drop the politics — or risk failing the very people who put them in power.
For now, the question remains whether the region’s political actors will heed the call — or continue down a path of division that could stall development before it even begins.
