Rukutana declared winner of Rushenyi NRM primaries

State Minister for Labour, Mr Mwesigwa Rukutana. FILE PHOTO

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Ms Maria Mirembe Baitwa, the Ntungamo NRM election officer on September 6 announced Ms Kabasharira the winner of the party flag with 24,006 votes ahead of Mr Rukutana with 23,966 votes. 

The Chairperson of the ruling National Resistance Movement  (NRM) Electoral Commission, Dr Tanga Odoi, has announced State Minister for Labour, Mwesigwa Rukutana as the winner of the Rushenyi County party primaries.

Dr Odoi said Wednesday that Mr Rukutana garnered 25,310 votes (46.27 percent) while his closest contender, Ms Naome  Kabasharira who had initially been declared winner garnered 25,290 votes (46.23 percent) after all the declaration forms were analyzed.

Another contender in the race, Mr Bob Nahabwe trailed in the third position with 2,270 votes (4.15 percent), Norman Beingana Kashereka got 350 votes (0.64 percent) while Elia Rwagara Mwesigwa got 256 votes (0.47 percent).

The announcement comes days after a section of voters in Rushenyi County in Ntungamo District protested the decision by Mr Odoi to cancel the victory of Ms Kabasharira as the party flag bearer.

On September 16, about 500 protesters converged in Rwentobo Town Council about 40km from Ntungamo Town, carrying placards, accusing the party of dishonesty. 

The protesters blocked Ntungamo-Kabale road with stones and burnt tyres, disrupting traffic before police dispersed them with bullets.

The initial tallies of the NRM primaries in Rushenyi on September 4 stated that Ms Kabasharira appeared to have defeated Mr Rukutana who is the incumbent MP.
The former deputy attorney general was later arrested and charged with attempted murder and threatening violence. He was released on bail on September 15.

The ensuing chaos prompted the intervention of President Museveni and the NRM electoral commission headquarters in Kampala which culminated in the recount of votes.

Ms Maria Mirembe Baitwa, the Ntungamo NRM election officer on September 6 announced Ms Kabasharira the winner of the party flag with 24,006 votes ahead of Mr Rukutana with 23,966 votes. 

Mr Rukutana’s agents later petitioned Mr Tanga for a recount.

On September 15, Dr Tanga started the recounting of votes in Rushenyi, announcing at the end of first day of the exercise that Mr Rukutana was leading Ms Kabasharira by four votes. 

The other candidates in the race; Mr Karabayi had initially got 2,266 votes, Mr Niwahereza got 1,202 and Mr Kashereka got 346.