Deputy Speaker Tayebwa unopposed as minister Otafiire faces four challengers
After being nominated, Tayebwa promised to focus on economic transformation and turn the whole area around into a model constituency.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa with his wife before being nominated at Mitooma district headquarters on Thursday. (Photos by Fred Turyakira)
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Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, who is also the MP of Ruhinda North County in Mitooma district, was declared an unopposed candidate for the constituency's parliamentary race.
Tayebwa, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flagbearer, was accompanied by his wife, parents, and NRM and district leaders to the Electoral Commission nomination centre at Mitooma district headquarters.
There, he was nominated unopposed to contest for a third term to represent the people of Ruhinda North in Parliament.
After being nominated, Tayebwa promised to focus on economic transformation and turn the whole area around into a model constituency.
He said he will focus on economic transformation, noting that they are, for example, distributing free coffee seedlings to boost incomes.
In the same district, internal affairs minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire was duly nominated to contest for the Ruhinda County seat, for which he will face four challengers.
Nahamya Coleb, the Electoral Commission registrar for Mitooma district, said 12 candidates were successfully nominated to contest for the three constituency seats of Ruhinda North, Ruhinda South, Ruhinda County, as well as that of the district Woman MP.
Four people were nominated on the NRM ticket, while eight others were cleared as independents.
Atukunzire Robert (left)
Otafiire, who was nominated on Wednesday, will battle for the Ruhinda County seat with independent candidates Benson Atumanyara-Ruhanga, Asaph Tugume, Edgar Arinda and Robert Atukunzire.
Rtd Capt Donozio Kahonda Mugabe, the incumbent MP of Ruhinda South, was nominated as an independent candidate. He will be challenged by NRM flagbearer Arthur Kazoora Atuhwereire and Bernard Kamukama (independent).
Juliet Agasha Bashisha, the incumbent Mitooma district Woman MP, was nominated as an independent after she lost the NRM flag to Rebecca Kyarampe (NRM). Kyarempe and Faith Kyohairwe (independent) were also cleared.