Nebanda’s sister elected Butaleja NRM flag bearer

Former Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda’s elder sister, Ms Florence Nebanda Andiru, has won the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries to become the party’s flag bearer in the same seat’s by-election.

According to the results released by the NRM district electoral commission registrar, Mr Joshua Nehole, on Friday night, Ms Nebanda polled 38, 978 votes (about 72.7 per cent) against her close rival Ms Allen Wegulo, who managed 4,950 votes (9.2 per cent) in the NRM elections marked by a low voter turn-up.

Other candidates in the race were Ms Aidah Hadoto, who got 4,076 votes (7.7 per cent), Ms Betty Nesihwe who polled 4,068 (7.6 per cent), Ms Mary Mboira, who garnered 987 votes (1.8 per cent) while Ms Sarah Namusabi got 622 votes (1.2 per cent).

During the declaration of the results, some candidates shunned the announcement with accusations that the party had rigged the elections. Mr Nehole asked those who lost in the primaries to ‘bury the hatchet’ and reconcile with Ms Nebanda.

NRM Electoral Commission chairman Prof Elijah Mushemeza said the NRM primary elections were peaceful, free and fair, and warned that independent candidates would not be tolerated.
“I’m warning those who failed not to think about coming as independents, the party will take action against anybody who comes as one,” said Prof Mushemeza.

The seat fell vacant following the death of Cerinah Nebanda on December 14.