Postcard from Mbarara

Kariuki Mureithi writes from Mbarara in the sixth of his reports from around the country in the run-up to and after Uganda's presidential election on 12 March

Mbarara is one of the few constituencies represented in Parliament by a woman, and that woman is no ordinary parliamentarian.

It is Winnie Byanyima - the wife of presidential candidate Kizza Bisigye.

And as if that is not enough, Mbarara also happens to be President Museveni's home district.

Boom time

It is perhaps because of these connections that Mbarara is one of the fastest growing towns in Uganda.

Many fine buildings have sprung up

Only recently it became home to Makerere University's Faculty of Science and Technology with a magnificent campus on the outskirts of the town.

This new look Mbarara is also reflected in recently built residential buildings and hotels dotting the hilly suburbs.

It is also a busy transit town for travellers to neighbouring Democratic republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.

Ethnic dimension

However, Mbarara was once the centre of the Ankoli kingdom, one of the monarchies abolished by former President Obote.

And this has continued to be important in the politics of the area.

Support has split down ethnic lines

The Ankoli tribe is made up of the two ethnic groups , the Bahima and the Bairu.

And this ethnic divide was clearly evident during the election campaigns.

The feeling here was that voters in this part of the country would decide the final outcome of the presidential poll.

Campaign

President Museveni sent most of his best campaigners to the region: some of them were escorted by the military police and stayed at the best hotels in town.

Every voter was important in this crucial part of Uganda

The people here divided along ethnic lines, with the Bahima campaigning vigorously for President Yoweri Museveni, while the Bairu sided with home boy Kizza Besigye.

But in spite of the high temperature in Mbarara, there was no campaign violence here.

And when the big day arrived, the Bairu voted for Besigye, while the Bahima voted for Museveni.