Kisoro, (UG):- Uganda’s Electoral Commission (EC) has cleared six candidates to contest for the Kisoro District Woman Parliamentary seat which fell vacant after the then incumbent Ms Sarah Nyirabashitsi Mateke in September 2024.
Presided over by the Kisoro District Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Mr Daniel Nayebare, the nomination exercise ended on October 31 with all the candidates now cleared to campaign for votes from their voters ahead of the November 14 by-election.
The candidates nominated by close of exercise on Thursday include the ruling party’s ticket holder who is former Kisoro Woman MP; Ms Rose Kabagyeni, an NRM-leaning independent candidate who lost to Kabagyeni in last week’s primaries; Ms Akifeza Grace Ngabirano, and NUP’s Ms Zubedi Sultan Salim.
Others are; Ms Juliet Musanase (FDC), Ms Chimpaye Aisha (People’s Progress Party), and lastly Ms Mable Ingabire (UPC).
EC commissioner Anthony Okello thanked all stakeholders for ensuring a successful exercise. He urged candidates to conduct peaceful campaigns, considering that there is life after elections.
“The entire nomination as you have witnessed has been peaceful. I would like to commend our candidates, media, security and other stakeholders for the role you played for a smooth exercise. I think this is an appropriate time for you to elect your leader. Listen to all the candidates and ensure that the electoral process is peaceful up to voting day on November 14,” Mr Okello said.
Nominated Candidates speak out
Ms Akifeza Grace Ngabirano said she chose to contest as an independent candidate due to irregularities in the NRM primary election which she lost after getting 39,179 votes while the winner Ms Rose Kabagyeni polled 39,941 votes.
“Because of the irregularities during the NRM party primary elections, my supporters asked me to contest as an independent candidate and I accepted because I never wanted to disappoint them,” Ms Akifeza Grace Ngabirano said.
Ms Mukankwaya Sultan Tana, the NUP ticket holder urged voters to remind the NRM government of its unfulfilled presidential pledges in Kisoro District including the construction of the John Kale Memorial Institute and tarmacking tourism roads in the southwestern Uganda district.
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