Winners and losers: Ministers beaten as confusion still mars NRM polls

Kampala

As uncertainty continued to cloud several constituencies where elections went ahead despite anomalies in the National Resistance Movement primaries, early results showed that some senior party members had been defeated.
In the few constituencies where final results were announced, the biggest casualties were two state ministers from eastern Uganda. Delays in tallying results, however, contributed to the failure to declare a winner in a number of constituencies.

Floored
The vanquished ministers are Dr Emmanuel Otaala (State for Labour) who lost to his main challenger Jacob Oboth-Oboth in West Budama South and Jennifer Namuyangu (State for Water) who lost to MP Saleh Kamba in Kibuku.
Mr Otaala, however, went on local radio where he declared himself winner, thereby adding to the confusion that has characterised the exercise in Tororo District.
At least five other ministers and several current NRM MPs were still fighting for their political lives as results from different polling stations trickled in last night.
Ministers Simon Ejua (State for Transport) in Vurra County, Simon D’Ujanga (State for Energy) in Zombo, Dr James Nsaba Buturo (State for Ethics and Integrity) in Bufumbira East, Pereza Ahabwe (State for Local Government) and Aggrey Bagiire (State for Agriculture) in Bunya West were trailing their opponents.

Fresh violence
By press time, the delay in announcing final results in Bukedea and Budaka in eastern Uganda led to fresh violence. With sporadic violence erupting in constituencies where tensions remained high, the chairperson of the party electoral commission, Ms Felistus Magomu, yesterday blamed the fiasco that has come to define the polling on “thieves” within the NRM who she said want to spoil its “good name”.

Incumbent MPs who lost, according to final results from their respective constituencies, include the current Youth MP for Eastern region, Zaake Kibedi, who was beaten by businessman Moses Balyeku in Jinja Municipality, while those who were trailing by press time include Winfred Masiko (Rukungiri Woman), Guma Gumisiriza (Ibanda North), and Santos Eruaga (Moyo East).

Refused to concede
Some of the likely losers have refused to concede defeat, declaring that they will contest in next year’s general elections as independents in the event that they lose the primaries. In Rujumbura, where two former health ministers were facing off, Dr Alex Kamugisha told reporters he would stand as an independent candidate if he was beaten by Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi. Gen. Muhwezi was late last night declared winner.

In Amuru District, Elizabeth Ochiti Alimadi, the challenger of former Minister Betty Bigombe said she would stand as an independent candidate if the NRM EC failed to address the issues in the petition that she filed after losing.

Meanwhile, in Arua Municipality and Vurra Constituency, some aspirants who lost in the NRM primaries threw in the towel. One of those who said they had quit the NRM, Richard Andama Ferua, cited massive vote rigging, sectarianism, intimidation and voter bribery in the race where he ran against five other aspirants. “Even my activities at NEC are now terminated because the confusion has caused divisionism among party members,” said Mr Ferua, hitherto a member of the NRM National Executive Committee and the serving Arua District chairman.

Threaten to quit
At least three other councillors, including an aspirant for the LC III seat in Arua Municipality, Jaberi Andiga, also threatened to quit the party. “I cannot allow myself to be in such a mess where candidates rig in broad daylight,” said Mr Andiga.

The NRM will however still have several familiar faces contesting in the 2010 parliamentary and district council election, after many of the party’s senior officials went through – some of them unopposed.

Those who are expected to win comfortably because they were leading last night include Security Minister and NRM Secretary General Amama Mbabazi, Public Service State Minister Sezi Mbaguta, Works State Minister John Byabagambi, Finance State Minister Jachan Omach, and Environment State Minister Jessica Eriyo.

They will be joined by familiar faces that are bouncing back, like former Minister for the North Betty Bigombe, former Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali, and the NRM Vice Chairman for Eastern region, Capt. Mike Mukula.

OTHER WINNERS
Moses Balyeku (Jinja Municipality West)
Amama Mbabazi (Kinkizi West)
John Byabagambi (Ibanda South)
Jim Muhwezi (Rujumbura)
Moses Ali (Moyo East)
Betty Bigombe (Amuru Woman)
Margaret Kiboijana (Ibanda Woman)
Pascal Odoch (Padyere)
Beatrice Wabudeya (Budadiri West)
Cosmas Mafabi (Budadiri East)
Saleh Kamba (Kibuku County)
Oboth-Oboth (West Budama South)
Aporu Amongin (Kumi Woman)
Nixon Owole (Adjumani LCV)
Henry Kajura (Hoima Municipality)
Justine Khainza (Bududa Woman)
Sarah Wenene (Kibuku Woman)
Julius Bigirwa (Buhaguzi County)
Tophas Kaahwa (Hoima Woman)
George Bagonza (Hoima LCV)
David Wakikona (Manjiya)
Patience Wibule (Sironko Woman)

OTHERS TRAILING
Zaake Kibedi (Jinja Municipality West)
Winfred Masiko (Rukungiri Woman)
Guma Gumisiriza (Ibanda North)
Santos Eruaga (Moyo East)
Jennifer Namuyangu (Kibuku)
Olive Wonekha (Bududa Woman)
Mwesigwa Isingoma (Hoima Mun.)
Tom Kyahurendwa (Buhaguzi )
Beatrice Byenkya (Hoima Woman)
Joyce Kwebiiha (Kyenjojo Woman)
William Kaija (Mwenge South)
Alex Kamugisha (Rujumbura)
Elizabeth Ochiti (Amuru Woman)
Richard Andama (Vurra)
Charles Kadyama (Kibuku LCV)
Alex Koi (Zombo)
Aggrey Bagiire (Bunya West)
Pereza Ahabwe (Rubanda East)
Ruth Tamwenya (Kibuku Woman)
Ruth Tuma (Jinja Woman)
Joel Kafuko (Jinja Mayor)
Catherine Mavejina (Nebbi Woman)

TO VOTE ON SATURDAY
Kalungu, Bukomansimbi,
Nakaseke, Kiboga
Some sub-counties in Serere District
Agago, Wakiso
Masaka, Namutumba
Mbale, Mityana, Buikwe, Kibaale
Kayunga, Kyankwanzi
Ssembabule, Kampala and Mukono