The former Member of Parliament for Budiope West (2011-2016), John Bosco Mubito, surprised the people of Buyende district, especially his supporters and friends, when he accepted the appointment as Resident District Commissioner of Mbale district despite all indicators pointing to a return in Parliament in 2026.
In this interview with Busoga Times, Mubito discusses the reasons why he accepted the RDC job, the experience so far as a president representative in Namutumba, what the future holds for him politically and very many other issues. Read interview excerpts below.
Who is John Bosco Mubito, people reading this interview might not know you?
I am the most honest man from Buyende district. I am also, a selfless servant of the people and son of Akisoferi Kaheru, the Mufuruki who settled in Busoga for good and never to look back.
I was born and raised in Buseete Cell, Makanga Ward, Buyende Town Council, in Buyende district.
I have served my people in Buyende in different capacities including as Chairman Budiope Development Project (BUDEP) and Secretary District Lobbying Committee 2004-2010.
I was Personal Assistant to former Budiope MP, Hon Balikowa Henry 2006-2009. I was MP for Budiope West in 2011-2016. This year, the President appointed me as the RDC Mbale District and now RDC Namutumba District.
You broke the hearts of your supporters in Budiope West constituency in Buyende district, where you once served as MP, when you switched from elective politics to public service, what informed your decision to take up the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) job?
Those hearts will be mended soon when my lovers and darlings get to see the fruits of my decision. I choose to withdraw from the race for Budiope West 2026 in favor of Hon Milly Babirye Babalanda after thorough research. I wasn’t under any form of duress.
Hon Milly is a reliable leader whose vision I wanted to support for the good of my homeland.
What is the role of an RDC at the district – for example when you wake up and reach your work station, what are your day’s tasks?
The RDC is the representative of the President in the District. He has to be a patriotic citizen who will tirelessly promote and support the manifesto and plans of the government in his district of deployment.
He is the IGG, Auditor General, Anti Corruption and Prefect of sorts in the district. You have to be ideologically strong to be able to serve well in the position of RDC
What has been the experience so far – how is life like to be an RDC especially when you once served as an MP?
You are working in the village and listening to real life stories and information from the wanainchi. It’s both enriching and challenging.
There are some clients who come and report injustices especially family land conflicts that can make you shed a tear. You are busy morning to evening, Monday to Sunday.
At a personal level, what is your agenda as the RDC of Namutumba and the people of Namutumba?
The people of Namutumba trust me and love me so much. And that keeps me on my toes everyday because I don’t want to betray their trust.
They have promised to raise the performance of Mzee Museveni and NRM to 90% because of my good approach and work ethos. I want to see this coming to fruition.
What can you say are the communal and leadership challenges that the people of Namutumba continue to face and require immediate solving to improve livelihoods?
Cheap popularity is a very big problem. All the leaders fear their people. Then other leaders survive on misleading their people to get them into trouble and appear later as saviors and heroes.
Few of them tell their voters what they are supposed to know.
As a person who serves the interests of the President in Namutumba, and of course the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), what can government do to solve these challenges?
We need President Museveni to keep going and continue securing the future of our people. The PDM is a great initiative and if given the support it deserves, no one will be left in poverty.
Emyooga, UWEP and GROW are also getting our people involved into the money economy from peasantry. The world should watch Namutumba.
We are going into an election year which tends to be competitive and chaotic politically, as an RDC how are you preparing to ensure n orderly and just electoral process in Namutumba?
By first of all sanitizing the NRM primaries; we want the candidates to earn what they exactly worked for. No issues of do the running I do the finishing. We’re giving a leveled platform to all the candidates.
Siding and compromising for particular candidates has been ended. We are doing everything in our power to ensure the people’s will is what manifests.
And this has boosted the confidence and trust of our people in the outcome of the next elections.
The opposition, especially the National Unity Platform (NUP) which at the moment is the biggest opposing political party, is gaining ground in Busoga, as an NRM leader, doesn’t this worry you?
In Namutumba, through PDM and all the other wealth creation programs, NUP has really lost ground. In fact all the former flag bearers of the opposition parties especially NUP have officially declared themselves NRM.
So NRM in Namutumba is only looking for percentage increments but no longer scared of nup
What strategies do you see as competent enough to fend off NUP and help your boss, President Yoweri Museveni extend his rule and grip on power?
Through ensuring accountability and proper service delivery, the wanainchi have never had issues with President Museveni but sometimes get bitter when the service delivery channels get infiltrated by corrupt officials.
Corruption is the only source of frustration and we have realized it is perpetrated by the opposition agents.
Talking or President Museveni, some Uganda, including those in NRM, say he has overstayed in power and should give way, what is your opinion on his long and continuing rule?
Living longer is generally an advantage and a gift that is only awarded by God. Every 5yrs our people democratically choose who their President should be. The talk of overstaying is just background noise from the losers.
You have been a committed politician in Buyende, and people expected you to stand for MP again, should we expect you to make a comeback into elective politics soon?
Leadership is about integrity and keeping your word. Hon Milly has convinced me beyond doubt that she will transform Budiope West into a prosperous community.
She has already started demonstrating how one acre of coffee and 250 birds (poultry) can get our people out of poverty and demonstrated through practical donations.
I could only think otherwise whenever she begins behaving like Musoke (Robert, former Budiope West) or Kyoto (Ibrahim, current Budiope West MP).
