Kampala – 9, August 2021: The Uganda North America Association (UNAA) is holding its 33rd Convention in September this year in Cincinnati, Ohio in the United States of America.
With ‘precisely one month’ left to the event, the association leadership, planning and electoral processes are being questioned. Months back, UNAA Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson Florence Bazanye accused both the Executive Secretary Etibot Lambert and Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairperson John Agaba.
“On April 03, 2021, it came to our attention that the EC documents that were submitted to the UNAA Executive Secretary, Mr. Lambert Etibot and later published on the UNAA website on March 24, 2021 were later taken down,” she said.
She added that “on April 03, 2021, the EC learnt about the BoT’s involvement in this matter. On April 07, 2021, the EC invited the BoT for a meeting to address the matter”.
On April 09, 2021, the BoT Chairman, Mr. John Agaba declined the EC meeting invite stating that: “BOT is planning to hold a meeting specifically to discuss the issue you’re trying to address.”
Ladies and gentlemen, Bazanye said in the same letter that the 2021 UNAA General Elections are in Limbo! “We have given ample time to the UNAA BoT and UNAA Executive to respond/address this matter. The UNAA EC is doing its role of organizing elections as stipulated in the UNAA Constitution.”
“Based on the facts above, two UNAA organs (BoT/Executive) clearly are interfering in the EC activities to organize the UNAA 2021 General Elections. The decision to hold elections this year rests with the UNAA BoT and UNAA Executive.”
With all the above drama, interference in one’s duty, more misunderstanding, was inevitable.
Like the EC boss, James William Mugeni—the Councilor for Central Plains has been vocal on matters affecting UNAA. Unfortunately for him, sources told TND News there was connivance between the EC, BoT, and other top leadership to disqualify him from the upcoming elections.
In the list of nominees vying for various posts, Mugeni, according to Bazanye, Mugeni not nominated. In her Wednesday 4, August “Official Announcement of Candidates for 2021 UNAA Elections”, only 42 out of 43 aspirants got nominated.
“Pursuant to the UNAA Constitution and the 2021 UNAA Electoral Commission Processes and Guidelines, the Electoral Commission has completed its mandated obligation of certifying candidates and would like to announce that each of the candidates listed is now officially cleared and certified to run and campaign for the position stated in his/her manifesto. 2021 UNAA campaigns are now officially open.”
Electoral Commission received 43 nominee applications. 42 were validated and cleared only one candidate did not meet the EC nominee requirements, hence could not be cleared by the EC.
“Candidates are reminded to familiarize themselves with election procedures and guidelines. The 2021 UNAA EC Process and Guidelines document is attached for reference purposes. In this document, the section titled, ‘Election Day Processes and Procedures’ will serve as a guide for election activities that will follow.”
Speaking to this publication last week, Mugeni says speaking the truth, demanding for accountability and advocating for better leadership brought him ‘problem’. “While I am calling it a problem, I am happy I can now talk and shake them further. Being out of UNAA gives me time to prepare,” he added.
However, he says the EC should let him know “why he was left out for the upcoming elections race, the qualities he does not have” since the official communication showed no reason for stopping him from representing Central Plains.
Last year, Mugeni wrote in the media that UNAA should be deregistered. According to sources at UNAA, this angered Agaba, UNAA President Henrietta Wamala, Etibot Lambert, among others.
“The article he wrote angered the executives and BoT. Soon, how to remove him from the system started,” a source said.
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In 2019, the then UNAA Vice President Eng. John Julius Muwulya wrote a letter to “UNAA gallant leaders and members” exposing Monday Atigo, the association President at that time.
Read his full statement below [partly edited]:
“Last week, a lady from Boston called me crying on the phone and told me that a UNAA Executive member had asked her to pay $794 dollars for a son’s Convention registration from Uganda. That is thrice the cost of a standard UNAA Convention. After an hour with her on the phone, she eventually opened up and shared that, Mr. Monday Atigo had asked for that money. When the son went to the embassy, his name was not even on the UNAA official list, but the money was gone. I was furious at first and then lost for words as I listened to her. Just last night as well, I received two Post Bank receipts from people in Uganda who had gone through a similar event. Both had paid close to $1,500 for their invitations and with Visa’s denied they wanted to know if part of their money can be refunded. Members, how many other events like those simply unnoticed?”
“I have been asked a couple times on the campaign trail why Mr. Monday Atigo and I don’t see eye to eye and my simple answer has been, our morals are different but we are cordial with one another for the sake of sanity in the association. Here is a man I stood behind in 2017 but came to realize that his goal was to enrich himself and never serve our community. The signs started on:
“August 29, 2017: After great efforts by many mobilizers and numerous donations, I came to find out that Mr. Monday Atigo and then Director of Finance; Mr. Michael Kimbugwe had manually entered several names into QuickBooks system as having made payments for membership without proof of monies being deposited into the accounts. This was a total blow to me following efforts by several members who had donated time, and money to the Atigo campaign. Being a man of optimism, I thought this was simply a misjudgment on the side of Mr. Monday Atigo and the then Director of Finance Michael Kimbugwe. They had all the access to do the right thing, but they made a grievous mistake. This embezzlement of donated funds led to the Miamo fiasco.”
“Post Miami Election: A lot happened that I will get into next week. A few months before Miami, Mr. Monday Atigo opened up a bank account in Post Bank and when the Treasurer asked for access to UNAA accounts, there, he was straight away denied without any type of explanation.
Since that decision, I have patiently waited and found out a few things about this special account in the last few months. Right in Post Bank, Mr. Monday Atigo also opened up his personal bank account. It is in this account that lots of money supposed to come to UNAA coffers are deposited. All information relating to this is on hand, and we shall follow up accordingly to retrieve this money soon.”
“Registrations in Uganda: Approximately 600+ brothers and sisters apply to come to the UNAA Convention every year. Of all those, less than 200 showed up on the official list from Post Bank coordinated by Mr. Monday Atigo. The other registration monies are exploits between Mr. Monday Atigo’s accounts in Uganda. Per my team’s findings, this right here makes UNAA loose approximately $150,000 dollars per year in unaccounted for money. Receipts and all other types of documents are on hand as well to recoup this money once elected President. We will follow the full extent of the law.”
“Funds donated by the Uganda Government: I have highlighted a couple times that UNAA does not need this money. One reason I will start with is because this money has been mis-appropriated by Mr. Atigo over the years he has been in office. He and his beneficiaries have chosen to award lots of money to chapters that are non-existent and also those with close associates where they have recouped some of it on the other end. Documents to support this are ready as well to support recouping of this money. Two, when the current financial loopholes, especially in Uganda, are closed, UNAA has enough money to run her operations year round.”
“Also, my team has findings, that Mr. Atigo and his beneficiaries embezzled money from the electoral commission during the process of buying computers from Dell in 2017 to collecting lots of money from sponsors that never get close to the UNAA accounts. Per my research, since 2013, the association has lost close to $525,000 dollars collected from Convention registrations and sponsorships that go to a personal account. Mr. Monday Atigo has used his position in UNAA since 2013 to enrich himself and not serve the membership of our community here in North America. This is a culture that will need to change under my watch.”
“In all this, Mr. Atigo tries not to have executive meetings in fear that others will find out about these scandals ways of running UNAA like a personal business.”
“As President, I will work with my team towards the urgently needed policies, procedures, and controls that will streamline our operations and make UNAA fiscally conservative and financially transparent. I will also assemble a legal team that will go after Mr. Monday Atigo and any of his beneficiaries for every single penny they have taken from UNAA coffers.”
“Embezzlement in UNAA will be dealt with full extent of the law. When we close these loopholes, UNAA has enough money to run her operations. The choice in Chicago for our membership is clear, a UNAA that will be accountable or one that will not. A UNAA that will provide a better service or not. A UNAA controlled by Mr. Atigo and his scandalous ways through his puppets or not. It is that clear.”
List of nominated candidates:
Henrietta Wamala Lydia Natoolo
UNNA Vice-President Position
Albert Bakasara Joan Bavuga Mpiima Mugambe
UNAA Executive Secretary Position
Lambert Etibot Maureen Asiimwe Kalemba Abu-Baker Mulumba Ssalongo
UNAA Treasurer
Elvis Nsereko Eric Gombya
| COUNCIL MEMBERS |
| Youth Representatives ( 2 USA, 2 Canada) |
| 1. USA Youth Female Representatives:
Ziadah Nanteza Vanessa M. Nansamba |
| 2. USA Youth Male Representatives:
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| Cyrus Mukisa Farouq Ssali Lule |
| 3. Canada Youth Female Representatives:
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| Basemera Carol Nerima Lyton Nabbira |
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4. Canada Youth Male Representative:
Katende Stuart Collins
Regional Representatives (12 USA, 6 Canada) |
| USA |
| 1. New England:
Gladys Namirembe Bernarzo Katende |
| 2. Mid Atlantic 1:
Julius Mutekanga Grace N. Sserwadda |
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3. Mid Atlantic 2: |
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Hanifa Nakiryowa. Maria Kisumbi |
| 4. South East:
Georgina Kirunda |
| 5. Southwest 1:
Mike Mukasa Edward Abili |
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6. Southwest 2:
Gilbert Byron Mulaabi |
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7. Great Lakes: |
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Josephine Mugagga Matovu David Ntambi |
| 8. Central Plains:
Patrick Kyenkya |
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9. Rocky Mountains:
Paul Nteripapa |
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10. North Pacific:
Martin Ntege Sylvia Ryan |
| 12. South Pacific 1:
Livingstone Sebabi Hudah Mukiibi |
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| 12. South Pacific 2:
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| Jacent Tamale Faridah Kuteesa |
| Canada Regional Representatives | ||
| 1. Atlantic:
Henry Luyombya |
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2. Central 1: Norah Aaliyah Namuyanja |
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4. Prairies: Zahra Namaganda |
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5. Mountain: |
| Fredrick Lubwama |
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6. Pacific: Justus Mirembe |