In a surprising turn of events, Charleson Batsigira, a dynamic 35-year-old businessman hailing from Nairobi, has decided to contest the upcoming 2026 general elections for the Rujumbura County parliamentary seat.
This unexpected move pits him against the incumbent security minister, Maj. Gen. (Retired) Jim Katugugu Muhwezi. Batsigira, who previously supported and campaigned for Muhwezi, now questions the minister’s commitment to their shared constituency.
Recognizing past achievements
Acknowledging the incumbent’s past accomplishments during his multiple terms representing Rujumbura County in parliament, Batsigira respectfully states that Muhwezi’s energy appears to have waned over time. “Gen. Jim Muhwezi regained the seat in 2021 after a five-year absence from 2016 to 2021.
However, his return has had little impact,” Batsigira explains. “While we appreciate his past representation, we believe it’s time to relieve him of the heavy burden of representing the people of Rujumbura.”
A call for change
Batsigira emphasizes that one of the major concerns facing the constituency is the lack of progress in the health sector and the dire state of feeder roads.
He highlights the difficulties faced by Rujumbura’s predominantly farming population, who struggle to transport their produce to the markets due to the poor road infrastructure, perpetuating poverty among the residents.
Among the impassable feeder roads mentioned by Batsigira are Kashegu – Rukungiri road, Kanungu – Kahoko highway, Omukaterero road, and Katwekamwe – Kihanga road, among others.
Promising a fresh approach
Confident in his ability to work closely with the people of Rujumbura, Batsigira promises to bring about effective change by addressing infrastructure gaps in a timely manner. “Gen. Muhwezi is a busy man with numerous ministerial responsibilities, leaving little time for the constituency.
Let him focus on his duties while Rujumbura gains a new parliamentary representative in the form of Charleson Batsigira,” he asserts. “I will forge a strong working relationship with the local population and technocrats to initiate a comprehensive overhaul of infrastructure, including road improvements and better-equipped health centers.”
Batsigira also expresses disappointment over the limited power coverage in Rujumbura, despite the widespread success of the rural electrification program in most districts across the country.
He mentions previous attempts by former Member of Parliament Turyamuhweza to bring electricity to the area, which resulted in the erection of electricity poles that now stand bare, devoid of any electric wires.
Batsigira criticizes Muhwezi, even as a cabinet minister, for failing to allocate resources to benefit his own constituents.
When reached for comment, Gen. Jim Muhwezi did not respond to repeated calls, leaving the public curious about his stance on his young challenger’s claims and aspirations for the Rujumbura County parliamentary seat.