By Sekaggya Seka Moses
As the 12th Parliament prepares to elect Uganda’s representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly, voices from across the country are rallying behind Thomas Ainebyona, describing him as the leader who can both defend Uganda’s interests in Arusha and finally put Mubende on the EALA map.
Ainebyona hails from Mubende District, the historic cradle of the 1980-1986 bush war that brought the current government to power.
Despite that legacy, advocates note that Mubende has never had a son or daughter represent Uganda in EALA since the Assembly’s inception.
“If any district deserves a chance now, it is Mubende,” one supporter said. “This is where the struggle for liberation started. For nearly 40 years Mubende has contributed to national leadership, yet it has never been given the opportunity to sit at the regional table in Arusha. Thomas Ainebyona offers that opportunity.”
Backers argue that Ainebyona understands Uganda’s bread-and-butter issues in a regional context.
Through his engagement with sectors such as the Parliamentary Forum on Oil & Gas, they say he knows how EAC decisions on pipelines, tariffs, and standards affect a farmer in Kasese and a trader in Busia. They contend that EALA needs that direct link between village realities and regional law-making.
On legislative work, supporters say EALA’s mandate to make laws for over 300 million East Africans requires more than presence. They describe Ainebyona as having the muscle to read treaties, draft amendments, scrutinize the EAC budget, and interrogate the Council of Ministers.
“Uganda cannot afford a silent MP in Arusha. We need someone who will demand value for Uganda,” the statement reads.
They also frame him as embodying EALA’s founding values: integration through seamless movement of goods and labor and an end to border harassment; democracy and good governance through transparency in EAC procurement; unity in diversity by championing policies that respect Uganda’s 56 tribes; rule of law by holding all Partner States accountable to the EAC Treaty; and equity by fighting for Uganda’s fair share of EAC institutions, funds, and jobs.
Diplomatically, advocates say Ainebyona strikes the rare balance needed in Arusha — assertive enough to defend Uganda’s red lines, and skilled enough to build coalitions with Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and DRC to pass laws in Uganda’s favor.
“Honourable Members of the 12th Parliament, send Thomas Ainebyona to Arusha,” the appeal concludes.
“He knows Uganda’s priorities, he understands regional law-making, and he carries the history of Mubende with him. Let Mubende, where it all began in 1986, finally take its seat in EALA. Uganda’s voice will be heard, respected, and feared.”
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