Zziwa, Ruth Kavuma Win

By Vision Reporters Margaret Nnantongo Zziwa yesterday trounced her sole rival, Sarah Muwonge Nkonge, with over 900 votes to retain the Kampala woman seat. She won 3,668 votes and Nkonge got 2,685, according to provisional results late last evening. Mrs. Ruth Kavuma, the wife of the state minister for defence, Steven Kavuma, won the Kalangala district women elections. Ministers Rebecca Kadaga (Kamuli) and Miria Matembe (Mbarara) were also reported to be leading by press time. In Kabarole, MP Beatrice Kiraso and journalist Margaret Muhanga were running neck to neck. In Nebbi, public service minister Catherine Mavenjina was having it rough at the hands of former NRC member Esther Dhugira Opoti. Mavenjina got 40 votes, Dhugira 243 and Betty Udongo 165 from the six polling stations in Nebbi town. State minister for local government Betty Akech was also not faring well in Gulu. She had 207 votes while Betty Ocan Aol was in the lead with 366. Joyce Mary Alum had 26 and Margaret Akidi was trailing with 12 votes. Ruth Kavuma, a political novice, trounced her rival Noelina Namugenyi, a DP stalwart with 405 votes against 104. Kavuma, a sister of Col. Andrew Lutaaya, has hitherto been headmistress of Gayaza High School. Zziwa won in Nakawa, Central and Kawempe divisions but lost marginally to Nkonge in Lubaga and Makindye divisions. Ethics and integrity minister Miria Matembe was leading in Mbarara municipality and in Sanga, Nyabushozi and Kakiika in Kashari. By press time she had 216 votes against 2 for her rival Mary Francis Semambo. Reports from upcountry stations put the two candidates in a neck to neck race. Provisional results for Kabarole showed Muhanga having an upper hand over incumbent Beatrice Kiraso. Kiraso had 2,211 and Muhanga 2,271 votes, but results from one subcounty had not yet been received. In Kumi the incumbent MP, Christine Amongin Aporu, had established a clear lead with 2,284 votes while Rose Akol Okullu got 1,668 votes. In Bugiri, preliminary results from four parishes in Buwungu subcounty put the District Education Officer, Justine Kasule, on the lead with 1,085 votes. Solome Mukisa, wife of the state minister for fisheries, Fred Mukisa, had 557 votes, Ancilla Batenganya 140 and Jesca Namukwana 135. In Rukungiri, Winfred Masiko was leading with 4,140 votes while the incumbent MP Winnie Babihuga had 1,944. In Mukono there was no clear leader. From a few polling stations, Esther Kirumira was in a slight lead. In Masaka, the race was tight. Results from a few polling stations in the municipality put Winnie Makumbi at 405 votes, Sauda Mugerwa Namagwa 406, Margaret Ntambazi Nnabaggala 154 and Sarah Matovu 56 votes. Nusura Tiperu won the Yumbe district seat. In Jinja , the incumbent, Ruth Owagage Alinyikira, was in second place with 2,121 and Ruth Tuma 3,662 votes while Irene Mawanda had 2,073. Beatrice Magoola, mother of musician Racheal Magoola, was in narrow lead in Iganga with 454 votes. Mrs. Rosemary Seninde was in early lead in Wakiso district with 692 votes followed by Sarah Nakafeero 317, Dr Margaret Namusoke 188 votes, Monica Katamba Serubiri 72 and Mary Christine Ntege 69 votes. In Bushenyi, incumbent Bernadette Bigirwa was in the lead with 2,421 votes against rival Sarah Bireete. Minister of state for disaster preparedness Jane Frances Kuka alleged massive rigging in Kapchorwa where Gertrude Kulany was ahead. "Terrible. People are fighting," she said. In Rakai, state minister Sarah Kiyingi was leading. Betty Amongi led in Apac and Margaret Ateng in Lira. Ends