Kagadi, Kibaale sub-county contenders unopposed

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Most of the Kagadi and Kibaale NRM mainstream leaders have been elected unopposed, except for a few cases of violence and misunderstanding in some areas.

In Kagadi town council, Stephen Kagwa emerged winner with 96 votes as the NRM Chairperson, beating his closest rival Richard Kyaligonza, who garnered 86 votes as an incumbent NRM Chairperson.

Kaija Byaruhanga was elected unopposed for the NRM Chairperson seat in Muhorro town council. In Muhorro sub-county, Gastone Barugahare got 91 votes, while his closest rival, Living Stone Kirungi, scored 46 votes.

Voters line up behind Muhorro sub-county NRM contender Gastone Barugahare in Kagadi district. (Photo by Andrew Musinguzi)

Voters congratulate winner Gastone Barugahare at Muhorro sub-county headquarters. (Photo by Andrew Musinguzi)

In Galiboleka sub-county, Julius Tumukunde was elected unopposed as the NRM Chairperson.

The party's grassroots elections started on May 12, with the party conducting elections of party structures at the parish level.

On May 16, the party elected party structures at the sub-county, town council, and municipal division levels.

On May 19, the party will conduct elections of party structures at the municipal and city divisions.

On May 23, the party will conduct elections at the district level.

While addressing the media in Kampala recently. Dr Tanga Odoi, the party's electoral commission chairperson, revealed that after the auditing of the party register during the May 6, LC1 elections, 958,336 names were deleted from the party register after the village baraza brought the total number of NRM registered voters to 18,845,761 from 19,804,097 voters.

Kibaale

Meanwhile, reports from Kibaale District indicate that at Nyamarunda town council elections were marred with irregularities of missing names in the register, which attracted protestors from one contender, Joseph Atagwirweho, who accused Pacal Kiiza of felling non-voters who failed in village and parish NRM elections.

Chrysostom Mikisa Salongo, the NRM registrar, Kagadi District, said elections in 35 sub-counties, including 5 town councils, were free and fair, and registrars did their duties diligently.

"In most sub-counties and town councils of Kagadi districts, NRM primaries were conducted smoothly with the majority passing through unopposed, except few misunderstandings in Muhorro town council, which we sorted out with two warring factions", said Mikisa. 



Police deployed heavily at the Nyamarunda polling station after protestors staged a violent demonstration.

John Sanyu, the registrar who conducted the elections at Nyamarunda Primary School, said elections were postponed to the following day (Saturday) due to election violence engineered by supporters of a rival candidate.

Ritah Kisarale, the Kibaale NRM Registrar, said she was called to intervene and conduct free and fair elections.

"After a misunderstanding between the two contenders, Pacal Kiiza and Joseph Atagwirweho, I had to come in to quell the situation. I managed to contain the situation, and Pascal Kiiza was declared the winner based on the majority support", said Kisarale.