One killed as Nebanda wins Butaleja Woman NRM flag

Ms Florence Nebanda Andiru was on Wednesday declared the winner of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag for Butaleja District Woman Member of Parliament.

The hotly contested rerun in Busabi Sub-county out also left one person dead in Lwanda Trading Centre after a fight broke out among the supporters of opposing camps on Wednesday.

Ms Nebanda, who briefly served as the Woman MP after she was elected in a by-election in 2013 to replace her sister, Cerinah Nebanda, who died in office in December 2012, polled 37,123 votes.

Her closest rival, Ms Agatha Hamba Muloki, got 35,714 votes.

Other contestants in the race were Ms Milly Mugeni, the incumbent MP, who polled 9,599 votes, Ms Sarah Logose Annet with 2,826 votes and Ms Suzan Baluka Bubago, 793 votes.

The Butaleja District Police Commander, Mr Hassan Katumba Mugerwa, confirmed the incident in which one person was killed and others injured.

“The supporters from two camps of Ms Nebanda and Ms Hamba fought. Unfortunately one person was injured but died later at Busolwe hospital,” Mr Mugerwa said.

Ms Nebanda had on September 4 lost the flag to Ms Hamba but she petitioned the NRM electoral Commission protesting Ms Hamba’s victory.

Ms Hamba had won the election with 35,268 votes against 34,254 polled by Ms Nebanda.

Following the petition, the NRM approved a rerun in 29 villages in Busabi Sub-county in Butaleja District to determine the actual winner for the District Woman MP seat.

The election was held under tight security by police and the army.

The acting Butaleja District NRM Registrar, Mr Paul Kiwanuka, declared Ms Nebanda as the party flag bearer.

“I declare Ms Nebanda, who has polled the highest number of votes, as the flag bearer for Butaleja District Woman MP,” Mr Kiwanuka said.

Shortly after declaration, Nebanda’s supporters broke into celebration prompting police to fire teargas and live bullets to disperse them.

The Butaleja Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Elijah Madoi, said they deployed heavily after getting intelligence information that some people wanted to cause violence.

However, Ms Nebanda said the elections were free and fair.

“The elections were free and fair and I am happy that God has granted us our full victory,” she said.

Efforts to get a comment from Ms Muloki was futile as her known telephone number was not available by press time. But her campaigning manager, Mr Musa Hasiyo, said she would contest as an Independent.

“Our victory was tampered with during the tribunal process. We are going to defend our victory in the General Election,” he said.

He said the NRM tribunal was biased and Ms Nebanda was awarded votes in the five polling stations, which had been nullified.