Contestants shut offices

South Western

A section of NRM MPs and their supporters in Bundibugyo District have closed the party office on grounds that it has failed in its duties.

The MPs claim that the NRM Secretariat has also failed to resolve the anomalies raised in the area ahead of the primary elections for flag bearers. “We have decided to close the NRM office because it is useless, it is just full of a clique of relatives who have failed to do the party’s work,” said Bundibugyo Woman MP Jane Alisemera yesterday evening. “Elections are not yet held in the district but already ballot papers are circulating here.”

Last week, the candidates; Bughendera County MP Dr Joseph Matte, Ms Alisemera and Bwamba County MP aspirants Simoli Baguma and Dr William Sikyewunda told journalists that they had sent several petitions to the NRM secretariat over alleged anomalies and a plan to massively rig the polls but there was no response.

In Kamwenge, seven dissatisfied aspirants have petitioned the NRM secretariat to have the polls cancelled. They handed in their petition to the NRM Kamwenge Administrative secretary, Mr Willy Turyamubona. They include incumbent district chairman, Mr Edward Musingye, Dr George Mugisha also vying for the LCV chairperson seat, Mr Agrey Natuhamya vying for the Kibaale county MP seat, Ms Florence Hashaka, the incumbent district woman MP and Isingiro RDC Aidah Mehangye also vying for Woman MP seat among others.

They contend that only 40 percent of the voters had a chance to cast their votes. Dr Mugisha alleged that the Kamwenge NRM office connived with some aspirants to rig the votes.

Supporters wait in vain
NRM election officials yesterday failed to release final results in Kisoro, Kabale and Kanungu districts as hundreds of supporters camped at tally centres demanding to have the results.

Meanwhile, provisional results in Kinkizi West indicated that Security Minister Amama Mbabazi had 30,522 while his opponent, Gadi Ragaju, had collected 10,308 votes. Ibanda South MP John Byabagambi and the district Woman MP, Ms Margret Kiboijana, were in the lead while provisional results from Ibanda North indicated that the incumbent Guma Gumisiriza was trailing. In Rujumbura County, Rukungiri Jim Muhwezi was leading with 5,801 against Dr Alex Kamugisha’s 1,291. Dr Kamugisha told reporters that he will stand as an independent candidate in the general elections if Gen. Muhwezi defeats him. State Minister for Public Service, Ms Sezzi Mbagutta, was leading the incumbent district woman MP, Ms Winfred Masiko, by 3,305 against 1,559.

In Bufumbira East, the Ethics and Integrity Minister, Mr Nsaba Buturo, was trailing his opponent Eddie Kwizera Wa-Gahungu. Mr Wa-Gahungu had 11,157 while Mr Buturo had only 9,154 votes by press time.

Felix Basiime, F. Mugerwa,I. Matovu, Jansen Assima, Frankfurt Kuheisa,Kabahweza Kamugisha & Mariam Kabasongora