By The Insight Post
Mukono|| “The world is on the bases of lies, thus, who knows how to decorate the lie is truthful,” according to Iraq Philosopher -Kamaran Ihsan Salih. The description fits Fatumah Ndisaba Nabitaka’s depressing political memories, perfectly.
Nabitaka is now the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Mukono District, where she stood for, but lost the highly contested Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament position in 2016.
In her capacity as RDC, she has demonstrated exceptional administrative abilities in resolving land disputes, and assisting with investment programs, security, and counseling communities.
The commissioner, on the other hand, has yet to recover emotionally from the most painful political malice in her life.
At her home in Njerere Cell, Goma Division, Mukono Municipality, Nabitaka told The Insight Post-Uganda how her journey to become a successful businesswoman and RDC, has been back-breaking.
From Classroom To Business, Then Politics
After completing her high school in 1988, Nabitaka enrolled at Lady Irene Primary Teachers College, Ndejje to pursue a teaching career. After graduating from college, she taught at Kiwanga Primary School managed by the Uganda Muslim Education Association (UMEA) and Ddembe Primary School in Byeyogere.
She quit teaching after two years (1997) to start retail, hardware and agricultural produce businesses, which have since thrived.
These business ventures brought her closer to the people from all walks of life with whom she interacted almost daily. She had no idea she would become too popular and everyone’s favourite.
It wasn’t long before a strong desire to enter politics became apparent. In 2001, she was elected Female Councilor for Nantabulirwa Ward in Goma Division by voters who desired politicians with a good reputation, and, more importantly, those who would stand with them amidst all challenges.
In her first term of office (2001- 2006) she was elected deputy speaker and the division secretary for health. Still, in her second term (2006-2011) as a division speaker and third in command, she was elected to serve as an interim division chairperson for the year when Erisa Mukasa Nkoyoyo (Division Chairman) was censured for alleged corruption, abuse of office, and incompetence.
“At the time, the division lacked a vice chairperson to succeed Nkoyoyo. So it was an opportunity that presented itself to me, and I jumped at it,” said Nabitaka.
However, during her ten years in office (two terms), she gained experience and confidence, and she decided to raise the bar and represent people at a higher level, thus competing for the position of LC3 chairperson for Goma division though lost to Nkoyoyo of the Democratic Party by then.
As a member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Nabitaka was persuaded by her supporters and party strategists to run in the party primaries for the position of Mukono District NRM Secretary. Surprisingly, she won the race and made it to the District NRM Executive.
The Bitter Race
Soon after winning the primaries, party strategists and supporters pressured her to run for Member of Parliament for Mukono Municipality in 2016. This appeared to be her long-awaited opportunity to enter Parliament but her political career was hanging off the edge.
Her bubble, however, burst unexpectedly, and her political career suffered a setback. Not because she lacked potential, but because of the malicious politics employed by her opponents.
The stiff contest featured six candidates including the incumbent- Betty Nambooze (Democratic Party-DP), Fatumah Nabitaka Ndisaba (NRM), and Moses Bakubi Lukubira (Forum for Democratic Change-FDC). Samuel Muyomba, Muhammed Bogere, and Edward Balikuddembe Bugembe were independent.
“They conspired to smear my name by fabricating all kinds of false stories against me. Worse, they claimed I had sacrificed my beloved mother as part of a ritual to help win elections and get more wealth; can you imagine such nonsense?” she wondered.
‘I cared for my mother for six months while she was in a coma and until she passed on. I don’t want to talk about it because it’s too painful between me and God,” Nabitaka recalls, saying she is haunted by those moments to date.
While campaigning, she recounts, her immediate opponent parading some of Nabitaka’s family members including her cousins on different rally platforms and propagated lies.
‘My husband got concerned when he, too, got included in my mother’s alleged sacrifice plus claims that I was not married to him. Because l was labeled a witch and my own cousins were used against me for no reason, I was psychologically tortured and couldn’t think straight because the majority of the unsuspecting members of the public believed the lies,” she adds.
She cited instances in which her opponent hired goons to wear her campaign t-shirts and assault people moving at night, or raid bars and cause chaos in order to tarnish her name before the elections. As if that wasn’t enough, she adds, used pangas and hacked people to make them hate her.
“I had no idea such devious politics existed. I actually expected it to be normal, but I was surprised. Those hired to slander me, on the other hand, apologized to me after a bitter feud with the politician who hired them,” she explains.
Election processes, in her opinion, must be decent and not used to humiliate opponents with baseless allegations. It is a competition to display one’s intelligence and potential to serve the people.
Healing From Wounds
It took some time for Nabitaka’s family to recover from the physical and emotional trauma of losing the parliamentary election on the wrong basis.
“My children and husband, in particular, were there for my sake. They consoled me and watched every step I took and the move I made to make sure I was safe. They thought I’d end up hurting myself or even taking my own life in some way,” she explains.
At some point, her family, particularly my children, became a disgrace in the community and a topic of discussion. Residents would insult and even attack them directly.
To recover from the traumatic events; “I had to pursue additional studies while also focusing on personal projects such as farming and empowering my school, Rock of Ages Day and Boarding Primary in Goma, to improve everything”. Luckily, she added to her education level a Diploma in Public Administration in 2017.
Appointed RDC
President Yoweri Museveni, the National NRM party leader, appointed Nabitaka as RDC for Butebo district a few months after she completed her Diploma in 2018. This was a comeback to leadership and a way to heal her emotional wounds and keep her in the leadership system.
“I had never been to Butebo district but I had to honour my boss to go and serve the people that side,” she explains, adding that the deployment helped her to reset her mind.
Later, she was transferred to Mukono district where the district leaders and electorate thought she had returned to set hard time for Betty Nambooze not to win Mukono parliamentary post in the 2021 elections which was false.
“My return caused some anxiety in Mukono municipality because people thought I had come to compete with Nambooze. But I am delighted to be back in office. I go to the field and listen to people’s concerns then look for redress,” she says.
Resolving land Disputes In Greater Mukono Districts
Mukono district has been home to land disputes and illegal evictions in recent years, thanks to Nabitaka’s deployment because everything is changing with some relief.
Residents and local leaders say her involvement has saved several families from evictions by known and unknown individuals.
“I began by chasing away anyone claiming to be associated with my office. I made it clear that only I, my deputy, secretary, and office attendant would be present at the RDC’s office and there won’t be middlemen at all,” she noted.
Unlike in the past, she adds, there is enough space for people to be heard directly by the RDC’s office without being duped of their hard-earned money by imposters. “We work with local governments (LC1s, LC2s, and LC3s) and residents to ensure that all parties involved in a dispute have an opportunity to express their concerns,” she says.
According to Nabitaka’s experience, it only takes a dedicated person to visit the villages and follow up on any matter from beginning to end. She stated that you cannot handle a situation completely in office without going to the ground and interacting with the opposing parties, community members, and local leaders.
“Most of the time if you don’t reach the ground, the sharp devils will outsmart you and evict people or destroy property in the name of the RDC’s office,” she adds.
To avoid suspicion of bribery or favouritism of any kind, the District Security Committee (DSC) is often invited to mediation meetings and minutes and reports are written on time.
“Now we face a challenge from unscrupulous people who undermine our offices. They go directly to court, where they process documents such as court orders which they use to evict or take the property of the poor. To ensure fairness, we follow up on such cases with magistrates, judges and State Attorneys,” Nabitaka elaborates.
Tracing Her Good Administrative Skills
Our family has been infused with leadership. It can be traced centuries to our grandfather, Edward Wanzu, who worked for the Buganda Kingdom specifically in Kyaggwe County. It is the environment in which I grew up that shaped my personality and impacted my well-being. I refuse to remain silent when there is a need to speak,”
She further attributes her leadership abilities to additional education. She holds a Bachelor of Public Administration and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Makerere University.
She takes pride in conducting thorough consultations before making a decision. “I have a caring husband and children who will always be there to listen and give me advice whenever I need it,” she says.
How To Attain Better Service Delivery
She believes that the country requires leaders with sufficient exposure and education at all levels adding that those who understand policies should be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. According to her, the taxpayers’ money is spent on programs being handled by unqualified people.
In terms of security, she says, since the police decided to merge police posts, then the LCs start to handle minor cases involving chicken theft and family feuds.
Private security companies should be verified by the local authorities where they operate. In Mukono, the director of the Centurian security company ordered his employees to use guns for survival, and I couldn’t stop it because it was approved by the IGP’s office.
About the guns in circulation, Nabitaka says the government should limit people’s access to guns for security reasons, because some people are too angry to handle guns in public, yet others hire them to criminals.
Her Strength and Values
Honesty, respect for women and helping those in need, are some of her beliefs and strengths. She despises those who deceive and those who spend time begging rather than finding something to do.
Nabitaka is the fourth of six children born to George William Nsubuga and the late Miriam Nabawanuka of Kiwanga-Goma Division. She attended Seeta CU Primary School (1981-1987) and Mukono High School (1988-1991) before enrolling at Lady Irene PTC, Ndejje. She holds a Diploma from UTAMU, Bachelor of Public Administration and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Islamic University in Uganda.
END.
English 