Dan Musinguzi Nabaasa a Partner at MNA advocates and a Kampala based businessman has declared interest to contest the Kabale Municipality Member of Parliament seat in the next general elections (2026). Dr. Thaddeus Nicholas Kamara (FDC) is the current MP for Kabale Municipality.
Magara Darious the Managing Editor of the eastafricanwatch.net in a Q and A interview captured his views about his mission for Kabale Municipality. Read the interview below;
We have heard in some circles that you intend to run for MP Kabale Municipality, is that right?
You heard right! With the mandate of the people of Kabale Municipality I will be in Parliament come 2026.
Why are you running for MP Kabale Municipality?
Development or any other success, does not occur by chance or accident, but is always a result of correct decisions and interventions applied at the right time that prepare and eventually shape a society to achieve desired goals. Development and progress can only be a result of conscious effort by a society to overcome present limitations and challenges and construct a better future for themselves. A critical element of this effort is always leadership that understands the challenges, is aware of the opportunities and has the means to mobilize society to address the challenges and utilize the opportunities to create the desired change.
So, to answer your question, it is a critical time for Kabale and the need for this kind of leadership is more critical now than ever, and I offer that!
Why you? What makes you what you say you are?
I think what sets me apart is my values and I can pick out a few. Personal Values of Integrity, Respect and Responsibility. I am a trustworthy and honest person, Spiritual Values as Christian by upbringing, conviction and choice. I cherish the Christian virtues and endeavor to live by the values of thankfulness, compassion, endurance, patience, self-control, justice, peace, wisdom and love as far as humanly possible, Family Values: I believe the nation is defined by how stable families are! I was fortunate to learn early on in life the importance and linkage between a stable family and success. My wife (Flavia Mbabazi Nabaasa) of 20 years and our 2 sons (Agaba Ariho and Amanya Ayebare Asiimwe) are the main beneficiaries of my value system and in turn they give me the support and motivation I need to accomplish my life endeavors and of course other my foundational home, the Musinguzi Family and finally Work Values: Results oriented, hard work, self-motivation, responsibility, people development, adaptability, Integrity and teamwork. I can best describe myself as a respectful, no excuses leader with unwavering integrity.
What challenges are you talking about?
We have significant challenges stemming from geographical and demographic disadvantages that are historical and well known. These include our comparative high population density that limits the land available per household for survival and income to a minimum, a challenging geography and topography that does not lend itself easily to mechanization and makes transport infrastructure sparse, difficult and expensive, remoteness to the main market in Kampala that depresses our farmgate prices, to mention but a few.
And what about the opportunities, does Kabale Municipality have opportunities?
We also have unique advantages, some of them directly connected to the very challenges mentioned above, that could be harnessed to give us unique opportunities for income and livelihood that the rest of our country may lack. For example, our mild climate and challenging topography is a big asset for tourism. The mild climate also makes ours the best place for production of crops like Irish potatoes, wheat, barley, peas and a wide range of fresh vegetables that other areas cannot produce. Our high population, if appropriately skilled, can become a labor force for industry, especially in this age where remote data processing and business process outsourcing has been made possible by technology.
Are we thinking and planning strategically enough to harness these opportunities?
Probably not, and that is where I and maybe other likeminded people come in, to offer a different kind of leadership.
Additionally, important national and regional developments are taking place that could have a tremendous effect on the economy of Kabale and Kigezi as a whole, if the right things are done in good time. The East African Community is growing with recent addition of DRC, and as luck would have it Kabale is right at the center of a trade route to DRC, Rwanda and Burundi. East Africa is gradually becoming a single market with a combined present population of 331 million and GDP of USD 296 Billion. The only question is what is Kabale selling or planning to sell to this growing market?
There are significant iron ore deposits in Rubanda and Muyebe, and East Africa has started on ambitious railway construction phase, that will pay billions of dollars in steal purchases in the next 10-15 years. When and where we can have a steal industry to utilize this iron, and if the youth of Kabale and Kigezi will be appropriately skilled to play an important role in a such development, are important questions that should be engaging in coming leadership at this critical time.
We are becoming a city next year, and what type of city we become, what that will it mean to our educated and not so educated young people are open questions but if answered correctly, of course by foresighted leadership, there are lots of opportunities that will emerge. There is quite too much at stake for the future of Kabale to be left to chance. We have an opportunity to overcome our challenges, utilize present and upcoming opportunities to construct a future we can all be proud of.
Talking of the City, What Kind of City do you envisage?
A vibrant city, that is a regional tourist, education and logistical hub. An industrial Centre for value addition to our unique crops and mineral resources, providing decent livelihoods to our people. This hope and opportunity will only be realized if we have theright leadership in place, both at local and District level, to provide a firm springboard, mobilize our people and make the necessary stakeholder networks that will make this kind of future a reality.
For people who may not know you, who are you? Shouldn’t this have been the first question?
I wish you could help me tell them what you know about me. But anyway, my name is Dan Musinguzi Nabaasa, son of the David Musinguzi (Deceased) and Joy Musinguzi. My father was a successful businessman of his time, and my mother is a retired Teacher and Banker, a family of 7. I am married with 2 Sons already mentioned to you earlier.
Work wise, I am in Logistics business, Media and Legal practice, I am the Managing Director Intraspeed East Africa (U) Ltd, Hills FM & Partner at MNA Advocates.
How are you able to do all this, what did you study?
I have purposefully and deliberately acquired formal training in diverse fields with the goal of using my skills and experience not just for my benefit but in anticipation of using them for the greater good. I hold a Master of Laws (LLM), Diploma in Legal Practice, Bachelor of Law, MSc Marketing, MA Economic Policy Management, BA Social Sciences (Social Admin & Economics).
Where did you go to School Prior to joining University?
I went to NTC Nursery and then to the one that was simply known as Kindergarten before joining Kabale Primary School (Demo) then Kigezi High School Primary (Lower) for a few years, then back to Demo. From Demo, I joined Kigezi High School for both O’ and A’ Level.
You come off as a successful businessman, what is your advice to another young Nabaasa out there in Kabale?
Well, success is relative but yes, I am happy with what I have been to do by the grace of God but I am far from where I want to be. But to a Nabaasa out there in Kabale or anywhere else in Uganda, many of us will not have inherited much from our parents to get us started but we all have unique abilities in us we can use to become the people we want to be. My value system has been very instrumental in my journey, there are equally good people out there looking for good people to work with – partnerships.
Back to Politics: There is talk of voting along religious lines in Kabale, how do you hope to navigate that?
Naturally voting is informed by certain factors and religion would be one of them but not by any stretch the most significant, the people of Kabale Municipality have always voted based on promise of service delivery, and this is not about to change. The concept of individual merit is so entrenched, and it has made the multi -party politics dysfunctional.
We have a cocktail of leaders from different parties at different leadership levels. For example, the Municipality has overwhelmingly voted for President Museveni NRM for as long as he has been a candidate but for 3 terms in succession, the NRM MP candidate has gone on to lose.
This brings us to the next question, on what platform are you standing?
I am an NRM Card Holder, but I intend to run as an independent. You may probably not know but I did participate in NRM primaries way back in 2010 and I was very unhappy with how it was handled which affected the outcome. I do not think much has changed, and ideally the process will be more or less the way it was. I know for sure for the majority of our Kabale Municipality people, it comes down to individual appeal. So, I am running on the platform of the people of Kabale.
What was your Campaign experience and what do you hope to do differently?
Oh! It was a good experience save for the not good ending. I learnt a lot, visited places I had never been to, met people who embraced my message (my campaign theme then was Obunaku Buhikire (the time has come), how appropriate then and now!) and came out to support. I got a better understanding of the challenges our people face and met so many hard working and successful people. I know better the concerns and expectations of our people from their leaders, they want leaders who are part of the community and who understand their challenges.
So, would you say you are a member of the community as expected of you?
Absolutely! When I was campaigning then I was staying at my Parents’ home in Kekubo, I have since built my own home in Butoobere, I have a business in Kabale – a radio station (Hills FM). These are symbols of enduring commitment to my motherland. In the days ahead as I engage more closely with the people, they will be convinced of my appreciation of our shared opportunities and challenges.
Why should the People of Kabale Municipality entrust you with this important office?
I believe I am among the best and the best suited now to provide this kind of leadership for Kabale Municipality/City in Parliament 2026-31. My education in Kabale from nursery to S6, my experience as a student and youth leader, my training and profession as an Economist, Marketer and lawyer, active participation as a business owner in Kabale (Hills FM 100.4), provide me with a rich combination of personal knowledge, experience, skillsets and competences to make a decisive difference in the task of making a great future for ourselves as Banyakabale and Banyakigezi. I have availed myself as a candidate for Parliament for 2026 and my appeal to the people of Kabale Municipality is;Tureebe Omumeisho, Tureebe Hare!( we need to have a vision and to pursue it with good choices).
