By Our Reporter
Masindi: The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party Vice Chairperson for Masindi district, Mr. Kanaginagi Merekisedeki Ateenyi, has declared his ambitions to stand for the position of Masindi district chairmanship.
According to Kanaginagi, he has been approached by many people from all corners of the district to contest for district chairmanship come 2026. ‘’After thorough analysis, I have decided to contest and compete for the district chairmanship since I’m still energetic,’’ he declared.
He made the declaration recently at his home in Bokwe Village, Labongo Sub County Buruli Constituency, while addressing a congregation who turned up for his thanksgiving mass on having been in holy marriage for 32 years together with his wife Jane Kanaginagi Nnamazi.
Kanaginagi said since he has been in politics and a councilor for over 20 years, he is experienced and has the capacity to lead the district.
‘’I’m not a starter; I was a councilor for over 15 years, the vice district chairperson, secretary for finance, and secretary for education, among others. I have enough experience to iron out the squabbles prevailing in the district,’’ he said.
Kanaginagi, who represented Greater Pakanyi Sub County to Masindi district council as directly elected and also served as district vice chairman, secretary for finance, and secretary for education, among others, said he wants to create peace and harmony in the district, which is still lacking.
Kanaginagi, commonly known as Orutindo, hailed a team of politicians with whom he joined politics in 1998, forming a political clan by then.
Cosmas Byaruhanga, the incumbent Masindi district LCV Chairperson, described Kanaginagi as a leader who never embraced corruption to easily accumulate wealth and advised residents of Masindi district to be wise enough by not voting for a corrupt leader in 2026.
‘’Kanaginagi was a leader who never embraced corruption to easily accumulate wealth. You should be wise enough when voting for the district chairman; don’t vote for corrupt leaders,’’ he advised.
Byaruhanga explained that he finds himself embodied in conflict as a result of fighting corruption in the district, and as he leaves the seat, Masindi must be a corruption-free district.
Father Aloysius Byaruhanga, the parish priest for St. Jude Catholic Parish Masindi Town, observed that the world over there is a role model crisis but hailed Kanaginagi for having lit a candle for his family in politics, economy, education, and spirituality, hence setting good precedence.
Who is Kanaginagi?
Mr. Merekisedeki Kanaginagi Ateenyi was born on December 9, 1957, to the late Benoit Baikaire and Maria Thereza Nsekanteberwe, who were peasants mainly engaged in coffee, groundnuts, bananas, beans as cash, and food crops.
He married Jane Nnamazi in 1980 and has children and grandchildren. Kanaginagi went to Bujuni Boys Primary School from 1966 to 1972 and Ntare School Mbarara from 1973 to 1978 for 0’ and A’ levels.
He later joined Kyambogo Technical College for a Diploma in Mechanical and Production Engineering in 1982–1983. Between 2003 and 2006, I got certificates in public administration and logistics management from Makerere University.
After studies, he started serious farming in 1989, when he joined the Out Grower Association as the zone leader for Labongo.
In 1993, Kanaginagi became a founding member of the Masindi Seed and Grain Growers Association, becoming the first secretary and presently the treasurer.
In 1990, he became a founding member of the Gutwatamanzi Farmers Association, which has withstood many waves and is still strong in Pakanyi Sub County, where he was its secretary, treasurer, and chairman for a very long time.
The 66-year-old Kanaginagi founded St. Jude Masindi as its chairman from 1993 to 2006. He joined the Uganda National Agro-Inputs Dealers Association in 2010 and 2013 and was elected as its national chairman up to date.
In 2014, he participated in the best farmer’s competition nationally and finished 20th overall. As a result, H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni awarded him a Golden Medal on Labour Day in 2016 in Hoima.
In 2019, the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom awarded him the Kabalega Medal for supporting food security in the kingdom.
Kanaginagi joined the Kinyara Sugar Cane Growers Association in 2003. He started with 7.3 ha but now boasts over 140 ha (350 acres registered under his name with Kinyara Sugar Limited).
So far, Kaniginagi is the first person to publicly declare his ambitions to contest for the Masindi district chairmanship.
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