Tension as Fort Portal goes to polls
TENSION is high in Fort Portal municipality, Kabarole district as voters prepare to cast their votes today.
By Hope Mafaranga
TENSION is high in Fort Portal municipality, Kabarole district as voters prepare to cast their votes today.
The Fort Portal Municipality elections were halted twice after the ballot papers of the LC5 chairperson, mayor and division councilor were not delivered.
The most sought offices include that of Kabarole woman MP Margaret Muhanga, her husband, Michael Mugisa, who is the LC 5 chairperson and Steven Kaliba the Fort Portal Municipality MP.
Muhanga is facing a stiff competition from the former district education officer, Victoria Rusoke, and Edwige Kezabu.
Kaliba is contesting with Alex Ruhunda, while Mugisa is facing Richard Rwabuhinga and Dr Kagoro Kaijamurubi.
Sande Tibamwenda, the Kabarole district National Resistance Movement returning officer, released provincial results, showing that Muhanga was trailing the polls.
Tibamwenda announced Rusoke leading with 30,750, followed by Muhanga with 30,250 and Edwige Kezabu trailed with 1,262 votes.
Mugisa was leading with 30,118 votes and his closest rival, Rwabuhinga had 26,206 votes, while Kaijamurubi was trailing with 10,117 votes.
The NRM officials in the district had refused to release results, saying they wanted to wait for Fort Portal Municipality to vote so that the results of the entire district can be released at once.
“We were forced to release the results after it raised suspicion from voters that the delay to announce the results was a planned move to rig the votes,†he said.
According to the NRM chairperson, Godfrey Nyakahuma, Fort Portal has 38,000 registered party members.
Tibamwenda also released the final results of the winner of Burahya and Bunyangabo counties.
Steven Kagwera won the Burahya seat with 36,413 votes, followed by Lt Col Steven Basaliza with 3,634 votes and Rukidi Mpuga came last with 675 votes.
In Bunyagabu, the Minister for Local government, Adolf Mwesige, got 23,450 votes, beating his rival Richard Muganzi who got 6,233votes.
TENSION is high in Fort Portal municipality, Kabarole district as voters prepare to cast their votes today.
The Fort Portal Municipality elections were halted twice after the ballot papers of the LC5 chairperson, mayor and division councilor were not delivered.
The most sought offices include that of Kabarole woman MP Margaret Muhanga, her husband, Michael Mugisa, who is the LC 5 chairperson and Steven Kaliba the Fort Portal Municipality MP.
Muhanga is facing a stiff competition from the former district education officer, Victoria Rusoke, and Edwige Kezabu.
Kaliba is contesting with Alex Ruhunda, while Mugisa is facing Richard Rwabuhinga and Dr Kagoro Kaijamurubi.
Sande Tibamwenda, the Kabarole district National Resistance Movement returning officer, released provincial results, showing that Muhanga was trailing the polls.
Tibamwenda announced Rusoke leading with 30,750, followed by Muhanga with 30,250 and Edwige Kezabu trailed with 1,262 votes.
Mugisa was leading with 30,118 votes and his closest rival, Rwabuhinga had 26,206 votes, while Kaijamurubi was trailing with 10,117 votes.
The NRM officials in the district had refused to release results, saying they wanted to wait for Fort Portal Municipality to vote so that the results of the entire district can be released at once.
“We were forced to release the results after it raised suspicion from voters that the delay to announce the results was a planned move to rig the votes,†he said.
According to the NRM chairperson, Godfrey Nyakahuma, Fort Portal has 38,000 registered party members.
Tibamwenda also released the final results of the winner of Burahya and Bunyangabo counties.
Steven Kagwera won the Burahya seat with 36,413 votes, followed by Lt Col Steven Basaliza with 3,634 votes and Rukidi Mpuga came last with 675 votes.
In Bunyagabu, the Minister for Local government, Adolf Mwesige, got 23,450 votes, beating his rival Richard Muganzi who got 6,233votes.