Independent Candidate Akifeza beats NRM to win Kisoro by-election

Independent Candidate, Akifeza Grace Ngabirano has been declared the winner of the Kisoro district Woman MP by-election by the Kisoro district Returning officer Nayebare Daniel. She garnered 50,459 votes, with the NRM candidate Kabagyeni Rose coming second with 44,982 votes.

The byelection that had attracted six contestants followed the passing on of the state minister for Defence, Hon. Sarah Nyirabashitsi who also occupied the same seat.

Akifeza beats Kabagyeni with a difference of 5,477 votes. In the third position is the NUP’s Zubedi Tana Salim with 903 votes followed by UPC’s Ingabire Mable with 362 votes, FDC’s Musanase Juliet with 193 votes and PPP’s Chimpaye Aisha with 157 votes. A total of 97,056 valid votes were shared by the six candidates.

“In accordance with Section 72 of the Parliamentary Elections Act (Cap) 177, declare Akifeza Grace Ngabirano who has obtained the largest number of votes winner and District Woman Representative to Parliament,” the returning officer, Mr Daniel Nayebare announced at around 1:30, throwing Akifeza’s supporters into celebrations.

Speaking to www.vomuhabura.com shortly after, Akifeza commended the electoral commission for organising a free and fair election. She called upon her fellow contenders to join efforts with her for the betterment of Kisoro.

Akifeza also noted that the election results speak volumes regarding criticisms against her for defying NRM’s principals to contest as an independent candidate.

“I owe the victory to determination and not offering my attention to any detractions. It was only two months to campaign and there were a lot of negative things said about me. I however call upon those who were unsuccessful to join me and we closely work together for Kisoro’s development,” said Akifeza after her victory.

Tanga Odoi speaks out

The Chairperson of the NRM’s electoral commission, Dr. Tanga Odoi noted that the party will now focus on the 2026 general elections.

According to Odoi, the surprising result was not because the NRM primary election was rigged, but because ‘politics in the entire Kigezi sub region have taken a religious twist’.

“An electoral process should not be seen as a do or die. It should be seen as a political trajectory for the future. We are looking at 2026. We have tested what the opposition can be in Kisoro by having two candidates; one a flagbearer and the other leaning.”

Mr Odoi also called upon NRM leaders to use this as an opportunity to reflect on their party ahead of the 2026 election.

“So I want to call upon the members of NRM in Kisoro that they should not look at this election as something to divide the house. They should actually reflect on what went wrong in primaries, what went wrong in the politics in Kisoro, especially religion in politics.”

“The elders of Kisoro who have been part of the problem should sit together and try to resolve what they know is the problem. I want to declare without fear of any contradiction that the problem we found here is not that primaries were not well conducted. It is because politics within the whole kigezi subregion has taken a religious twist.”

Meanwhile, the Electoral commission Chairperson, Simon Byabakama congratulated the people of Kisoro for a peaceful election. He urged law enforcement officers to investigate all election malpractices to deter others.

“It is high time we dealt firmly and decisively with electoral thuggery and vandalism to safeguard the growth of our democracy and deter others who harbor such inclinations.”

‘Voting exercise was peaceful’

Meanwhile, Kigezi regional police spokesperson, Elly Maate told www.vomuhabura.com that Kisoro NRM Chairperson Phillemon Mateke reported a case of ballot pre-ticking and stuffing by Hon. Kamara John Nizeyimana, the Bufumbira North MP.

This allegedly happened at Busanani polling station in Busanza Sub County at around 9:50am.

Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the Chairperson Electoral Commission intervened and other unticked ballot papers were provided and the exercise resumed after he dismissed the presiding officer and made the polling assistant to take charge.

By Thursday evening, Maate said police were still hunting for Hon Kamara.

Another case was for Ndayambajje Xavier, a 52-year-old NRM parish supervisor, resident of Sagitwe village, Mabungo parish in Nyarusiza Sub County, who reported assault on him at around 11:40am by four suspects all known by one name as Habert, Mufite, Mpengeri and Zihawe, who were all still on the run by Thursday evening.

A case of threatening violence was reported by Ayesiga Andrew, a 30-year-old NRM mobiliser from Mbarara City, who was allegedly assaulted at Kabindi polling station in Nyarusiza Sub County.

He alleged that he was assaulted by Kainerugaba Epafura of Nshora village in Nyarusiza Sub County, Kato Julius, a driver and resident of Kabaya village in Nyarusiza Sub County and Ivan Ntegyeyimisi. All the three suspects had been arrested and detained at Kisoro CPS.

Maate also said that Ntakyiriho Julius was arrested at Kisoro New Taxi park in Kisoro Municipality at 12:30pm for interrupting the election process while drunk.

Police also says that Mabasa Barbra, a coordinator at the NRM national office in Kampala, was allegedly assaulted by three suspects that include Amos Hakizimana, the district speaker, Nambajje Alex, the district vice chairperson and Tumwizere Michael, a driver and resident of Kisoro Municipality, who were all still at large.

She alleged that she was assaulted as she tried to stop them from bribing voters from Serena Hotel within Kisoro municipality.

Another reported case was of a man only known as Mugyema, who was arrested for allegedly inciting violence at Gahuru polling station in Cyanika Town Council by spreading propaganda of false arrests of party agents.