Close Mbarara NRM vote ends with call for unity

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The contest for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairmanship in Mbarara City North Division drew controversy on Monday, following a closely contested race between Aaron Kanyikirize and Mukasa Kamwebaze.

The election, conducted under heightened security, proceeded to two rounds of voting due to disagreements over the outcome of the first round. Kanyikirize initially received 29 votes, narrowly ahead of Mukasa’s 23.

Mukasa declined to concede, and his supporters raised concerns about the eligibility of some voters. As a result, electoral officials called for a second round, though it did little to resolve the dispute.

In the second round, Kanyikirize again led, this time with 27 votes against Mukasa’s 25. Mukasa and his supporters, however, did not accept the result, alleging bias in favour of Kanyikirize and requesting that the process be halted.

Kamwebaze Mukasa and his supporters contesting the results. (Photo by Abdulkarim Ssengendo)

Mbarara City NRM registrar, Ssebuma Kawesa, stepped in to address the concerns. After consulting with his team, he declared Kanyikirize the winner, citing consistency in the vote tally across both rounds.

“I have staged my decision of voting in two rounds because I didn’t see a variation in the results of the two. The first voting had a total of 52 votes, same in the second voting, 52 votes. I therefore declare Aarone Kanyikirize as the winner for Mbarara city NRM chairmanship,” Ssebuma stated.

He encouraged Mukasa’s camp to file a formal petition if they wished to contest the outcome, assuring them that the matter would be addressed fairly.

Mukasa remained firm, telling journalists that the second round had worked in his favour.

“In the second round of voting, I won him with 25 votes against 22 votes,” Mukasa stated.

Kanyikirize, meanwhile, welcomed the result and called for party unity.

“I want to thank those who supported me to be chairman elect, I have won the race and I offered myself for the leadership, and my number one priority will be to sort out disagreements in the NRM party,” Kanyikirize stated.

Elsewhere, elections in Mbarara City South Division proceeded without incident, with MP Mwine Mpaka elected unopposed as division chairman. Voting for other positions in both divisions was also concluded successfully.