By Meet Dr. Eng Badiru Kigundu, a renowned figure in Ugandan politics, particularly in the realm of elections. For a remarkable span of 14 years, from 2002 to 2016, Dr. Kigundu held the reins of Uganda’s Electoral Commission, leaving an indelible mark on the country’s electoral landscape. His tenure saw the transition to Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, who recently secured another term.
Throughout his tenure, Dr. Kigundu found himself embroiled in controversy, particularly during the presidential bids of Dr. Kiiza Besigye. Allegations surfaced that Kigundu manipulated election results to favor President Museveni, leading to Besigye’s repeated claims of electoral misconduct in 2006, 2011, and 2016. Besigye eventually relinquished his quest for the presidency, decrying the electoral process as a mere formality to endorse Museveni’s grip on power.
Following the conclusion of his term at the Electoral Commission, President Museveni entrusted Dr. Kigundu with responsibilities aligned with his expertise in engineering rather than elections. He appointed him to lead the presidential select committee tasked with overseeing the monumental Karuma and Isimba Hydro Power projects. Under Dr. Kigundu’s stewardship, the committee successfully completed the Isimba project in 2019, with the final stages of the Karuma Dam nearing completion.
In a recent revelation by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, it has come to light that Dr. Kigundu has been tapped once again by President Museveni. This time, he will helm the committee overseeing the construction of the contentious Lubowa Hospital. Despite the government’s substantial investment and restricted access to the construction site, the project has languished at the foundation level since 2019.
Efforts to monitor progress on the construction have been met with obstacles, with attempts by the Minister of Health, the parliamentary Health Committee, and the Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, stymied by resistance and armed opposition. With Dr. Kigundu’s appointment, there is hope for renewed momentum in bringing the long-awaited Lubowa Hospital project to fruition.
