Thursday, March 28News That Matters

NRM flagbearer Kwizera wins Bukimbiri by-election  .

Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu has been declared the winner of the the Bukimbiri constituency by-election with 12,214 votes.
Independent candidate Asgario Turyagyenda came a close second polling 10,105 votes.
Edward Mutabaazi, an independent candidate, got 308 votes and Forum for Democratic Change’s, James Owebeyi got 208.
The results were declared by Kisoro district returning officer Dan Nayebare at Hope Mission tally centre in Rubuguri town council.
NRM leaning candidate Turyagyenda has, however, already protested the results. He alleges that the polls were marred by ballot stuffing, bribery and illegal arrest of his campaign agents, and alternation of results.
Turyagenda’s protests are supported by FDC candidate James Owebeyi who has vowed to drag the Electoral commission back to court for failing to conduct a free and fair election. Owebeyi claims that government vehicles with concealed number plates ferried voters from neighbouring districts.
Independent Edward Mutabaazi was not present at the tally centre when the results were being declared yesterday.
The winner Eddie Kwizera thanked the voters of Bukimbiri for the overwhelming show of support in his candidature. He called upon his fellow contestants to join hands with him to serve the people of their constituency.
The Uganda’s Independent Electoral commission chairman, Justice Simon Byabakama in his remarks, commended the people Bukimbiri constituency for the peaceful campaigns and election process.
Byabakama pledged that the electoral commission will continue to conduct a free and fair election in Uganda and urged the elected Member of Parliament to work for the people regardless of their political and religious affiliations.
The election to fill the Bukimbiri county seat in Kisoro district was held amidst tight security.
The two main contenders NRM’s Eddie Kwizera voted at Iremera Hospital in Nyanamo town council, Turyagyenda voted at Ntungamo primary school at Nkuringo sub county.
Voting was peaceful at most polling stations. There were, however incidents of violence in a few places like Iremera hospital polling station where a New Vision journalist Simon Tumwiine was manhandled by NRM supporter Abigaba Kenneth who broke his camera.
At Kiriba village polling station in Nyundo sub county, Rev.Fr. Emmanuel Safari, the parish priest of Gatete Catholic Parish in Kabale Diocese survived lynching over allegations of voter bribery in favour of Independent Asgario and his Toyota Harrier UBJ 226G was pelted with stones.
Safari managed to flee to Kisoro Police Station where he has filed a case.
The seat fell vacant after a successful court petition by James Owebeyi, against the EC for failing to take an essential step to detect an anomaly on the ballot papers used when candidates’ names were substituted with unknown names.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *