NRM top Organ advised not to interfere in Bukimbiri County By-elections

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) has been advised not to fully invest its support behind any one particular candidate in the forthcoming Bukimbiri County By-elections scheduled for August 11^th 2022.

The district leaders belonging to the Kisoro Leaders Forum created by the Bufumbira North Member of Parliament (NRM) John Kamala Nizeyimana unanimously agreed that it would not be wise for the party to support Eddie Kwizera Wa Gahungu as the NRM flag bearer.

Director of Communications for the NRM party, Emmanuel Lumala Dombo yesterday met with the district leaders at 3 way- gorilla resort in Kisoro Municipality.

The leaders opted that, independent candidate Asgario Turyagenda be given enough leg room to mobilize and canvass for votes, same as Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu with little to no interference from the NRM party.

The two candidates, both NRM leaning are the biggest contenders in a five man race that will determine who becomes Bukimbiri County’s next Member of Parliament.

During the meeting, Dombo said Bufumbira North Constituency Member of Parliament Hon. John Kamala Nizeyimana and that of Bufumbira East Constituency Hon. Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, were among the top district leaders and party mobilisers to withdraw their support for Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu in the forthcoming elections.

Hon. John Kamala said the success of NRM in the district and the development of the people is a top priority for him whether it is achieved through an independent candidate or not.

“We have seen many independent candidates from Kisoro district going to the parliament and ably supporting and implementing the NRM party manifesto. It is our desire, that the top organ creates a level playing ground for these two candidates to win basing on their capacities, for the good of the NRM party”, Kamala said

Hon. Buturo, who was not present in the meeting but offered his views through a telephone interview said, his assessment of Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu has shown that, he is not a man to be entrusted with the seat of Bukimbiri County Member of Parliament.

“My reasons are personal however should the people of Bukimbiri find him to be their choice then we shall work with him however according to my personal assessment, he is not the right man for the job”, Buturo explained

Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu was not readily available to comment on the matters.

Party Seeks Cohesion in Kisoro

Dombo explained that the NRM party will strongly consider the request of the leaders in Kisoro however pointed out that the NRM party, seeks to have cohesion and unity in the upcoming elections.

He encouraged the leaders to spread the message of peace and development in order to avoid unnecessary unrest during the elections.

According to Dombo, the party desires to know and understand both candidates to ensure that whoever wins can fully support the vision of the party and whoever loses, can be approached to begin the process of reconciliation.

Background

The Court of Appeal recently made its pronouncement throwing out incumbent MP Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu.

This is after Justices Frederick Egonda-Ntende and Eva Luswata ruled that the ballot papers that were used in the January 2021 election were defective.

Although the matter came up on the day of polling, the returning officer led a gentle-man agreement among the candidates who were allowed to proceed with the elections.

Kwizera won the election with 11,821 votes and Asgario Turyagyenda, who was running on an independent ticket, came second with 11,330 votes.

FDC candidate James Owebeyi who managed to get 107 votes led the petition against Wagahungu arguing that the election had been marred with various irregularities.

Owebeyi returns to the race feeling confident alongside two newcomers, little known Joshua Mutabazi (NUP) a law student at Uganda Christian University (UCU) and Innocent Twinomugisha (Alliance for National Transformation)