NRM's Kangwagye wins Bukanga by-election

BUKANGA, Isingiro - NRM party candidate Stephen Kangwagye Rwakanuma was early Wednesday declared winner of the Bukanga County parliamentary by-election.
 
Kangwagye won with 18, 204 votes beating closest rival Nathan Byanyima who polled 16,946 votes. FDC’s Tito Turiyo got 321 votes, DP’s Dembe Shafik managed 65 votes while independent Pastor Abel Tumusiime tailed with 99 votes.
 
Kangwagye’s supporters exploded into jubilation as the Isingiro district returning officer Robert Twikirize released the results at 2:30 am local time.

A heavy morning downpour had disrupted early voting on Tuesday but the process resumed at the affected polling stations.

The rain, which had started at about 8.30am local time, forced presiding officials to suspend voting at some polling stations, forcing voters and presiding officials to take cove.

Most of the affected polling stations were in Ngarama Sub-county.

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Voters at Nyamarungi Pimary School polling station during by-election for Bukanga MP seat in Isingiro district. PHOTO/Abdulkarim Ssengendo

The rain though, did not affect delivery of election materials which were delivered to the various polling stations just about on time.

Tuesday's voting also saw heavy Police deployment right from the start.

The contest to replace fallen MP Gregory Matovu featured five candidates: NRM’s Steven Kangwagye, DP’s Shafique Dembe, FDC’s Tito Turiyo, independent candidates Nathan Byanyima and Pastor Abel Tumusime .

The seat fell vacant following Matovu’s death late September this year.

Two of the initial seven hopefuls pulled out of the race a few days to voting day. The reason for the withdrawal of independents Asiimwe Jackline Matovu and Jeremiah Kamurari Birungyi was unclear.

Fallen area MP Gregory Matovu had served in that position for three years before his death late September.

Matovu had joined Parliament in 2011. Prior to joining the House, he had worked with the ministry of education, the Presidential Commission for Teso and also as Senior Assistant Secretary Office of the President.

He had also served as a Foreign Service officer, Protocol Department from 1980 to 1987.