Mawokota North constituency Member of Parliament Amelia Kyambadde has said musician Hillary Kiyaga famously known as Hilderman is like her son and that she will never harbor any resentment against him.
Kyambadde, who is also trade minister, was responding to Hilderman, who recently said that she made empty promises to her constituents simply to win votes.
“For him to say Mawokota North has not developed is a shame because he even composed a song (Amelia) for me, praising me for the role I played in developing the area. It is annoying that he could say that. He should appreciate what someone has done and highlight what he is going to do,” Kyambadde told New Vision newspaper.
“He is like my son and I have never harboured any resentment against him. In fact, I take pride in his development. So, he should not be confused by his people to be negative because I will never be negative towards him,” she said. “I have done so much for him. I paid for the Amelia song; I supported his family and will continue doing so because I feel we need to continue nurturing these young people. We will not be there forever.”
Kyambadde said when she first entered the fray in 2010, after resigning from State House, where she worked as principal private secretary to President Yoweri Museveni, she saluted the then Mawokota North MP, Peter Mutuluuza, for the work he had done and promised to build on his success.
“That is mature politics. He cannot say I have not done anything,” she said. “My constituency is not my personal property, so anybody who feels competent enough can stand. It is the people to decide. I am pleased that he has gone to that level (of vying for MP seat). That shows I mentored him well. What is important is what he intends to deliver,” the minister lamented.
Kyambadde, Kiyaga’s longtime friend, has been the area Member of Parliament since 2011 and according to Hilderman it’s high time she gave up the seat come 2021.
In 2018, the ‘Amelia’ hit singer disclosed his intentions of ousting the legislator in the next general elections.
In an exclusive interview with Watchdog Uganda, Hilderman said the minister has done a commendable job for the people of Mawokota North but she should now let the young blood take the steering wheel for the good of the area.
Hilderman who has been on Kyambadde’s campaigning team since 2011, noted that as close associates, he is soon meeting the latter so that he can convince her to leave the parliamentary seat for him.
“We need to have a healthy competition. Since she is my friend, I’m going to meet her face to face, tell her my intentions and also convince to retire. Retirement is a culture we want to teach our old leaders. They need to give way for young blood to take on leadership,” he said.
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