URN.Mutabazi, who was accompanied by Jolly Mugisha, the NUP Coordinator in Charge of the Western region was seen rushing to Mutorere secondary school in Kisoro town where he completed his secondary school level to verify the certificates.
The Electoral Commission-EC has nominated five candidates for Bukimbiri county parliamentary by-elections in Kisoro district. The two days exercise that commenced on Monday closed Tuesday with the nomination of 19-year-old Joshua Mutabazi, the National Unity Platform (NUP) party candidate.
Mutabazi was nominated at exactly 04:07 PM on Tuesday afternoon. Electoral Commission officials had earlier bounced Mutabazi for presenting unverified senior four and six certificates and the failure of some of his seconders to present their national identity cards. Mutabazi, who was accompanied by Jolly Mugisha, the NUP Coordinator in Charge of the Western region was seen rushing to Mutorere secondary school in Kisoro town where he completed his secondary school level to verify the certificates.
However, upon his return with the certified certificates, the EC officials turned away three of his seconders were chased away after failing to present their national identity cards. The commission nominated Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidate exactly 12:33 PM while Edward Mutabazi, an independent was nominated at 01:47 PM after struggling to meet all the requirements.
Mutabazi, who was supposed to be nominated at exactly 10:00 AM was bounced after failing to present photocopies of his academic documents. He rushed to Kisoro town and returned at around 01:00 PM with the photocopies.
They joined their colleagues Asgario Turyagyenda, an independent, and the Forum for Democratic Changes (FDC) candidate, James Owebeyi Mugyemano who were nominated on Monday by the Kisoro District Returning Officer, Daniel Nayebare.
Addressing journalists shortly after his nomination, Turyagyenga, said that once voted into parliament he is prepared to advocate for the improvement of the tourism sector since the county is found near Bwindi Impenetrable national park.
Owebeyi said that this by-election is an indication that the FDC fights for the transparency of all systems in Uganda. Owebeyi said that he is a sure candidate to be voted for because he stands for truth like how he dragged the whole electoral commission to court and won.
Edward Mutabazi says that once voted, he will advocate for unity in Bukimbiri county.
According to Edward Mutabazi, the county is now in political wrangles between supporters of Kwizera and Turyagenda. Kwizera says that he is the right candidate to be voted for following the nullification of his victory because of an anomaly from the Electoral Commission. Kwizera also lamented that a section of Kisoro district leaders who are not supporting him are showing a bad image to the party.
John Kamara Nizeyimana, the Bufumbira north constituent member of parliament, his Bufumbira East Constituency counterpart, James Nsaba Buturo, and Paul Buchana Kwizera, the Kisoro Municipality MP have thrown their weight behind Turyagyenda.
Joshua Mutabazi has promised to advocate for the improvement of education, road infrastructure, and health among others. Asked about the hustle he went through before being nominated, Mutabazi, said that he was ready with all the requirements, but was just sabotaged by an influencer inside his camp he declined to reveal.
Daniel Nayebare, the Kisoro District Returning Officer, says that the exercise has been completed without any challenges. Voting in Bukimbiri is scheduled to take place on August 11, 2022. The by-election stems from the court of Appeal’s decision to nullify the victory of Kwizera citing irregularities following a successful application by Owebeyi.
In his application, Owebeyi argued that although the candidate’s photos and party symbols that appeared on ballot papers were genuine, they carried different names. The ballot papers carried the names of Arthur Kazoora Atuzarirwe as the NRM flag bearer, Didas Byaruhanga Kagyinda as the FDC flag bearer, and Victor Atwiine and Donzio Kahonda Mugabe as independent candidates yet none of them were from the area.
