Seasoned golfer and engineer Paul Bajje Baite has officially joined the race to represent Bukono Constituency (Namutumba District) in parliament after being nominated as a candidate in the ongoing National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries.
The Aberdeen University (Scotland) schooled Baite, a son of veteran politician and veritable son of Busoga, Mr Baite Munobwa, who hails from Ivukula Sub County, is seeking to secure the party flag in the upcoming internal NRM elections scheduled for 16 July 2025.
With a clear development-focused agenda, he has pledged to spearhead a transformative campaign aimed at revamping the prospects of the constituency.
Speaking after his nomination on Tuesday afternoon, Baite passionately appealed to the constituency to entrust him with the NRM flag, saying his representation of the constituency will be anchored on 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 constituent’s needs have been ignored. That has to change,” he said amid ululations from his supporters.
As part of his manifesto, Baite promised to fight poverty, which he says continues to afflict over 50% of the population in the constituency. He also highlighted the dire need for clean water in the constituency and revealed that he had done some lobbying to have clean water. On the education front, he promised to seek global partnerships
He also revealed that the Parish Development Model (PDM), a government initiative aimed at poverty eradication and socio-economic transformation by empowering households through various interventions, has registered success and promised to champion its further development.
During a recent visit to Kalamira (Namutumba District) in January 2025, President Museveni reaffirmed his commitment to wealth creation. He noted that PDM had transformed lives in Busoga.
“I encourage the beneficiaries of PDM to jealously guard the programme. The president wants each household to chase away poverty through PDM. Beneficiaries should be careful to choose ventures that have high returns,” he advised.
Baite’s entry into the race has been received with enthusiasm by sections of the electorate, especially those keen to see an end to persistent empty rhetoric from politicians who have fed them on lip service over the years. He is also riding on the popularity of his biological father, who is an encyclopaedia on Busoga politics and kingdom affairs.
The Bukono Constituency, comprising three town councils (Nangonde TC, Ivukula TC, and Kibale TC) and four sub-counties (Nangonde, Ivukula, Kibale, and Nabweyo), is set to witness a heated battle for the NRM primary seat.
Front runners for the NRM ticket include Paul Baite, Hon. Persis Namuganza (incumbent), Hajji Siraj Kirya Gusongoire and Emmanuel Maganda Katoko.
