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Karuhanga bounced back to Parliament
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PARLIAMENT
Newly elected Ntungamo Municipality Member of Parliament Gerald Karuhanga has defended his decision to contest as an independent candidate after parting ways with the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), arguing that most Ugandans are more concerned about service delivery than political party affiliations.
Karuhanga made the remarks while speaking to journalists at Parliament during the second day of the swearing-in ceremony for Members of Parliament.
The legislator admitted that Uganda’s opposition parties still face major challenges in extending their political message to communities across the country.
“I think a leader is one who reads circumstances and appreciates the given situation, and then comes up with an effective approach,” Karuhanga said.
He explained that his earlier attempt to contest under the ANT ticket in 2021 exposed the political realities within his constituency, where voters were not yet fully aligned with the party’s political direction.
“I tried to run on the ANT ticket in 2021, and I realized that my area was not ready, and they were not ready for the form in which I had presented myself,” he said. “Even this time, when I had no intentions of running, they came looking for me and said, ‘Would you mind coming differently? Because we still need you.’ In fact, I made the decision to run close to the nomination period.”
Karuhanga argued that many Ugandans prioritize practical issues affecting their daily lives over partisan politics.
“One thing I have learned about our country is that people care about what affects their lives. They are not as keen yet on our partisan alignments or organizations,” he said.
“They are more concerned about whether they can find medicine in hospitals, whether they can afford school fees for their children, and whether their children can get jobs.”
The legislator noted that the opposition still has significant work to do in convincing voters that it can deliver meaningful change in such critical sectors.
“The fact is that in some areas, the opposition has not made clear strides, so we still have a challenge. I hope we can make a difference,” he added.
Karuhanga also revealed that one of his priorities in the 12th Parliament will be advocating for a National Health Insurance policy to improve access to healthcare services across Uganda.
He said Parliament should adopt a collective and bipartisan approach on issues of national importance.
“In the current circumstances, we may have to focus on pushing national health insurance campaigns,” Karuhanga said. “If we handle this collectively and comprehensively, government may realize that the entire Parliament is speaking the same language on this issue, and so are Ugandans.”
He expressed hope that a united parliamentary approach on key policy matters would compel government to respond more seriously to the needs and expectations of citizens.
Karuhanga, who has previously served in Parliament, returns to the House at a time when debates around healthcare access, unemployment, and service delivery remain central to Uganda’s political discourse.
Torch Media Africa
