By Darious Magara

AMOS Mugisha, the independent candidate in the Rukiga parliamentary by-elections, has vowed not to pull out of the race in favour of the official NRM candidate.

In an interview with The New Vision on Monday in Hotel Home Again in Kabale town, Mugisha said his supporters had insisted that he keeps in the race.

“President Yoweri Museveni had asked me to consult the people with a view that I should step down.

“But my supporters said they will ensure that we win the seat for the Movement,” Mugisha said.

Mugisha came into the limelight after he contested and lost to Adison Kakuru in the NRM party primaries. He said the polls had been rigged.
He got nominated as an independent, which has angered the NRM leadership.

His candidature prompted a meeting with President Museveni and supporters of Kakuru which took place in State House Kampala recently.

The President asked them to harmonise their stand with a view that Mugisha pulls out of the race to save the party the risk of dividing its support.

Mugisha, born in Bukinda sub-county, studied in the UK and has worked with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

He is a businessman and is believed to be backed by prominent businessmen Manzi Tumubwoine and Shem Bagaine.

Jack Sabiiti, the FDC candidate and Medard Gumisiriza, an independent, are also in the race.

The byelections will be held on Monday next week. The seat fell vacant when the area MP Samuel Byanagwa died of cancer on January 24.