NRM’s Oliver is Buhweju Woman MP
Ms Oliver Koyekyenga is congratulated by her husband after she was declared winner of the Buhweju Woman MP seat. She beat FDC’s Jane Bwiruka in the by-election to replace Joy Kariisa who died in September. PHOTO BY COLLEB MUGUME
BUHWEJU- The Electoral Commission has declared NRM’s Oliver Koyekyenga winner of the Buhweju Woman MP by-election.
Ms Koyekyenga beat FDC’s Jane Bwiruka in the Thursday poll that was described by the electoral body and monitors as ‘very peaceful’.
Low turn-up
When contacted for a comment on the election outcome, Ms Bwiruka said “I intend to challenge the election in court” without elaborating.
Ms Koyekyenga polled 17,637 votes (65.6 per cent) while Ms Bwiruka got 9,266 votes (34.4 per cent).
A total of 26,903 people cast their ballot out of 44,118 registered voters in the district. This means 17,215 people did not vote.
Apathy towards the exercise was evident at the polling stations. More than 30 minutes would elapse before someone turned up to cast a vote.
At Bisya Primary School Polling Station in Bisya Sub-county, 163 out of 562 voters had voted by 2 pm.
At Karungu Primary School, polling station in Karungu Sub-county, 194 voters out of 451 had turned up by 3pm.
At Rugaba Tea polling station in Rwengwe Sub-county, 268 voters out of 478 had voted by 4:20pm.
“We started at 8:15am because we had not received voters from 7pm up to that time,” said Mr Johnson Mubangizi, a presiding officer at Engaju Trading Centre Polling Station in Engaju Sub-county.
Mr John Baptist Muhumuza, a teacher and farmer in Nyakishana Sub-county, said some people did not go to vote because they were weeding their gardens and picking and selling tea.
On Wednesday evening, security personnel arrested three FDC agents; Mr Robert Centenary, Mr Hosea Baluku and Ms Rose Kansiime at Nyakambu as they entered Buhweju District.
They were held at Nyakambu Police Post but were released later in the night.
Heavy security deployment
Ms Winnie Kiiza, the opposition Chief Whip, said on Thursday morning, heavy deployment of security personnel and the arrest of the FDC agents scared many voters and the party was forced to look for people to replace those who had pulled out.
Riot police vehicles and other police trucks were seen at Nsiika Town Council Headquarters.
Policemen kept patrolling the area but did not interfere with the exercise.
“The situation is calm,” Rukungiri Municipality MP Rolland Kaginda (FDC) who was one of the monitors told Saturday Monitor.
The Electoral Commission chairman, Mr Badru Kiggundu, said before the results were declared at 11:45 that this was “the most peaceful by-election”.
After she was declared winner, Ms Koyekyenga pledged she would not disappoint the electorate.
“I had worked for this day. I thank God for the achievement. I am very happy. I want to thank people of Buhweju for supporting me, I will not let them down,” she said.
The seat fell vacant after the death of Ms Joy Arinaitwe Kariisa (NRM) on September 8.
THE WINNER
Academic qualifications. Oliver Koyekyenga, 37, has a Bachelors degree in International Business from Makerere University
Business. She owns Garnet Enterprises Ltd that exports and imports fresh fruits, fish and matooke (bananas).
