Counsel Eliab Naturinda Mporera, a parliamentary aspirant for Ndorwa West Constituency in Kabale District, has pledged to dedicate his first salary as Member of Parliament to reforming the operations of Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs), should he be elected.
While addressing supporters in Kahungye Sub-county on Saturday, Mporera emphasized the critical role SACCOs can play in empowering financially struggling residents. Counsel Naturinda noted that by improving access to affordable loans and financial services, SACCOs can offer a viable alternative to traditional banking systems, especially for rural communities.
Mporera, who is seeking to unseat the incumbent MP and State Minister for Finance (General Duties), David Kwesiga Bahati, said it is time for Ndorwa West to embrace a new chapter after nearly two decades under the same leadership.
“It’s time for change,” Mporera told supporters. “Let us build a future where every citizen has access to financial empowerment and their voices are respected.”
He also called on his supporters to stay courageous and undeterred in the face of intimidation or political pressure aimed at suppressing their will.
Local leaders and residents expressed growing support for Mporera’s bid. Paul Katekye, the LC1 Chairperson of Kiniisa Village in Nyombe Parish, urged residents to rally behind Mporera, citing the need for accountable and refreshed leadership in the constituency.
In a surprising turn, Geresiyana Turyamureba, a longtime mobilizer for Minister Bahati in Nyombe Parish, announced that he has shifted his support to Mporera, citing years of unfulfilled promises from the incumbent.
“We have waited too long. Nothing has changed,” Turyamureba remarked.
Jackline Atuhaire, the LC3 Councilor for Rubumba Parish, echoed these sentiments during Mporera’s campaign rally in Rubumba. She declared that the time had come to vote out Minister Bahati.
“We know the tricks they use to rig elections. This time, we are ready to expose them,” Atuhaire said. “We are mobilizing for a protest vote because we are tired of empty promises.”
In his response, Counsel Mporera urged residents to remain vigilant and firm against any form of electoral malpractice on polling day.
Simpson Mpiriirwe, a former Ndorwa West parliamentary aspirant, also threw his weight behind Mporera, saying the time has come to redeem, unite, and deliver true representation for the people of Ndorwa West.
