Brothers battle in Kikuube, as incumbent MPs retain seats

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All National Resistance Movement (NRM) incumbent MPs and party flag-bearers in Kikuube district have managed to retain their seats after winning Thursday’s parliamentary elections.

According to the results that were declared by Kikuube district returning officer Emmanuel Twine yesterday, the post of district woman MP was retained by the incumbent, Florence Natumanya, who defeated Joan Kyomuhendo (independent). Natumanya polled 43,342 votes (65.86%) against Kyomuhendo’s 22,464 votes (34.14%).

Kyomuhendo participated in the NRM primaries but rejected Natumanya’s victory on the grounds that the primaries were marred by a lot of irregularities.

Buhaguzi

In Buhaguzi constituency, the incumbent and flag-bearer, Francis Twinomujuni Kazini, was declared the winner after beating National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Peter Senjubu and two independent candidates; Dan Muhairwe and Jackson Halela. Kazini got 21,336 votes, while his closest rival, Muhairwe, got 17,974 votes. Senjubu got 2,106 votes while Halela polled 549 votes.

Muhairwe joined the race as an independent, citing irregularities in the NRM primary results.

“They rigged our victory, and such a way of conducting an election is going to make us hate politics. I have not conceded defeat, but I will not go to court,” Muhairwe said.

The returning officer (Twine) also declared incumbent and flag-bearer Stephen Aseera Itaza the winner of the Buhaguzi East constituency race after he beat four candidates. Itaza defeated NUP’s Hillary Bazaara Kato and three independents; Eng. Julius Ahura, Nelson Junjura as well as his brother Julius Bigirwa.

Brothers tussle it out

According to the results, Itaza’s closest rival was his brother (Bigirwa). Itaza polled 10,668 votes as opposed to Bigirwa’s 8,422 votes. Ahura pulled 3,862 votes, Kato got 800 votes, while Junjura got 273 votes.

Speaking after being declared winners, Kazini, Natumanya and Itaza commended the voters for giving them another mandate and promised to prioritise service delivery such as improving roads, healthcare, education, fighting land grabbing, and ensuring electricity connection.

The returning officer commended the people who turned up to vote adding that the election was free and fair.

Kikuube residents district commissioner Godwine Agalia Kasigwa said he was happy that all NRM flag-bearers and the President were overwhelmingly voted back into office. He noted that the elections were peaceful, adding that no incident of violence was registered in the district.