Bukanga goes to the polls today

BUKANGA, Isingiro - Police has deployed heavily in Bukanga County, Isingiro district ahead of today’s parliamentary seat by-elections.

The seat fell vacant following the death of the area MP Gregory Matovu in September this year.

Electoral Commission spokesperson Jotham Talemwa said election material are set to be distributed to the 135 polling stations in the county.

Voters will choose among five hopefuls for their next representative in the Ugandan Parliament.

The initial number of contestants was seven. But two of them, Independents Asiimwe Jackline Matovu and Jeremiah Kamurari Birungyi, withdrew from the race only a few days to voting day.

The remaining five include NRM’s Steven Kangwagye , DP’s Shafique Dembe, FDC’s Tito Turiyo, independent candidates Nathan Byanyima and Pastor Abel Tumusime .

President Yoweri Museveni was in the area to garner support for his party’s flag-bearer.

He addressed two campaign rallies at Kiyenje Primary School Grounds and Ngarama Sub-county Grounds.

Fallen area MP Gregory Matovu had served in that position for three years before his death late September.

Matovu had joined Parliament in 2011. Prior to joining the House, he had worked with the ministry of education, the Presidential Commission for Teso and also as Senior Assistant Secretary Office of the President.

He had also served as a Foreign Service officer, Protocol Department from 1980 to 1987.