By-election campaigns close

(L-R) Dr Kizza Besigye campaigns for Mr Charles Okure as President Museveni (R) campaigns for Ms Proscovia Aromait at Usuku Sub-county headquarters yesterday Photos by Simon Emwamu & PPU.

What you need to know:

Campaigns for parliamentary by-elections for Usuk and Butambala constituencies ended yesterday with leaders of the leading parties, NRM and FDC, in last minute efforts to win voters for their candidates.

President Museveni and the leader of the largest opposition party Forum for Democratic Change, Dr Kizza Besigye, spent yesterday trying to swing voters for their respective candidates in tomorrow’s parliamentary by-elections for Usuk and Butambala constituencies.

Campaigns for the elections closed yesterday with observers pointing at the possibility of a closely-contested process which has been marked by incidents of violence, notably in Usuk.

Electoral Commission Spokesperson Charles Ochola last evening confirmed all preparations for the by-elections are complete.

“We are prepared for the by-elections. The campaigns have been concluded peacefully except for minor clashes we have heard of in Usuk County.” Mr Ochola told Daily Monitor yesterday

The ruling National Resistance Movement party has lost six of the seven by-elections held in Busiro North, Entebbe Municipality, Luweero (Woman), Kasese (Woman), Bukoto South, Jinja Municipality East and Bushenyi-Ishaka constituencies. FDC and the Democratic Party have shared wins in the seats.

By press time, there were reports of clashes between supporters of NRM and FDC in Usuk, after the army and police stopped Dr Besigye and his team from using the shortest route to Katakwi from Ongonja Parish, where they had gone to campaign.

President Museveni was holding his rally at Usuk High School, which is on the route that enters Katakwi from the said parish.

The FDC leader, who led door-to-door campaigns in the constituency, later reluctantly used the alternative Napak–Karamoja route to Katakwi.

Yesterday, the President tried to reconcile supporters of the two candidates who are running on the NRM ticket.

“It was so hard to decide on who would be the party flag-bearer for these elections. Thus the party sat and decided that another party primary election was needed from which the late [Michael] Oromait’s daughter, Proscovia Oromait emerged winner,” Mr Museveni said.

There are ten candidates in the Usuk race, while Butambala has only four candidates after one of the candidates pulled out and rallied her support behind the NRM flag bearer Hajj Faisal Kikulukunyu.

Ms Faridah Nakiboneka, an NRM-leaning independent, announced her withdrawal during the President’s visit to Butambala on Sunday.

“My continuous stay in the race has become a disservice to the NRM party because it is splitting NRM votes. I hereby pull out of the race and order all my supporters to rally behind Faisal Kikulukunyu,” Ms Nakiboneka said on Sunday.

Following the withdrawal of Ms Nakiboneka, Hajj Kikulukunyu’s closest rival, Mr Mohammed Muwanga Kivumbi, accused him of having planted her, allegations Hajj Kikulukunyu denied.

“He had planted several candidates in the race who all our people know. Nakiboneka’s pulling out won’t threaten our victory because all people knew what she was planning to do and others are yet to pull out as well,” Mr Kivumbi said.

The races
Butambala: The race has Ibrahim Tomusange Batemyeto (UFA), Mohammed Mwanga Kivumbi(DP), Ssentongo Sharif (Indep) Faisal Kikulukunyu (NRM) and Farouk Walungama (Indep). The seat fell vacant when court nullified the election of Faisal Kikulukunyu over voter bribery and election rigging.
Usuk: There are ten candidates in the Usuk race. However, the race is closely contested by NRM’s Proscovia Oromait and FDC’s Charles Okure.

Additional reporting by Dear Jeanne.