"Voting a person who can’t express himself or stress a point in English is a great mistake Bungokho Central has done" - Eddy Wamimbi, Bugisu Senior political analyst

"Voting a person who can’t express himself or stress a point in English is a great mistake Bungokho Central has done" - Eddy Wamimbi, Bugisu Senior political analyst as he elaborates more in an exclusive interview, with our reporter ahead of the 2026 general election. 

Currently, Wanda Richard is the member of parliament, representing the people of Bungokho Central on the NRM ticket since 2021. 

Wanda lost the flag to Masaba Muhamood in the just concluded nrm primaries.

It should be well noted that on several occasions, Masaba Muhamood has been tasked to deliver his speeches in English, but ends up in broken English. 

This has always left several elites  & intellectuals in dilemma, questioning Masaba's academic qualifications. 

Though, with reliable information on our desk, Masaba Muhamood went for adult education in 2019, it is on record that he dropped out of school in primary in the early 90's and joined business, which made him popular in Mbale City. 

According to Wamimbi, Voting for someone who knows English to parliament can be beneficial in contexts where English is a key language for governance, international relations, or legislative processes. Therefore voting for a candidate who can't express themselves or stress a point in English is a great loss to the constituency. 

He further noted that these are some reasons why this might matter, keeping it concise:

Effective Communication: Proficiency in English ensures clear communication in parliamentary debates, especially in countries where English is an official or working language like Uganda. It helps in articulating policies and engaging with diverse stakeholders.

Access to Global Resources: English proficiency allows MPs to access international reports, laws, and research directly, enabling better-informed decisions without relying on translations, this leads to better lobbying for the constituency and country at large. 

International Representation: MPs often represent their country in global forums (e.g., UN, Commonwealth). English fluency ensures they can negotiate, advocate, and build alliances effectively.

Legislative Precision: In multilingual settings, English is often used for drafting laws or official documents. A fluent MP can scrutinize and contribute to these texts accurately.

Constituent Engagement: In diverse societies, English can bridge communication gaps with constituents who speak different native languages or with diaspora communities.

Wamimbi also says, however, voters should also prioritize other qualities like integrity, competence, and alignment with their values.

He says language skills alone don’t guarantee effective leadership. Context matters—English proficiency may be less critical in regions where local languages dominate governance.