By Chris Mugasha

PROF. Ephraim Kamuntu is the latest cabinet minister to be defeated in the NRM primary elections. Kamuntu, who is the finance state minister, lost his Sheema South seat in Sheema district to his long-time political rival, Eng. Yorokamu Bategana Katwiremu, a presidential advisor and the former MP of the area.

In the controversial polls where the counting process took four days, Katwiremu polled 17,632 against Kamuntu’s 17,226.

Kamuntu becomes the third minister in Bushenyi to be defeated. “They declared wrong results,” he said after hearing the news.

Asked what his next move would be, Kamuntu replied: “Let me first sort this out.”

In Sheema North, Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye retained his position unopposed.

For the newly-created district Woman seat, Rosemary Nyakikongoro emerged the winner after beating her rivals with 29,555 votes. Jane Gubaare, the runner up got 21,974 votes.

Pastori Mugisha became the flag-bearer for the district chairmanship with 41,539 votes after defeating Peter Kabagambe, who got 29,977 votes.

Earlier, the counting exercise had been halted after the candidates accused each other of rigging the elections.

Joel Mugisha, the district NRM registrar, said: “The candidates have failed to agree because some want recounting.”

The Police deployed heavily at the tallying centre and the place was closed off from the public.

The situation was cooled down after the Bushenyi deputy resident district commissioner, Nickson Kabuye, ordered fresh counting.

The tallying officers had used computers to compile data, but when Kabuye arrived, he ordered them do the exercise manually.

On Tuesday, voters camped at the district headquarters up to about 9:30pm demanding the release of the election results.