10 to compete for NRM flag

ELECTION WATCH

RUKUNGIRI - At least 10 candidates have been registered to compete for the Rubabo parliamentary seat on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket.

This is the highest number of candidates in the district. Rujumbura has attracted four candidates and Rukungiri municipality and the district Woman seat have three candidates each.

Rubabo constituency is one of the oldest in the district, comprising four sub-counties and two town councils. It borders with Rujumbura, Kinkizi East, Rukungiri Municipality, Kajara and Rukiga constituencies.

Those contesting for the NRM flag in Rubabo county include the incumbent, Mary Paula Turyahikayo, who is seeking a fourth term in Parliament.

According to some residents, Turyahikayo will have to double her efforts to return. Julius Agaba, a resident of Burora in Nyarushanje, said their MP has not done much for the constituency for the last 15 years.

"She has been promising to extend power to rural areas, but nothing has been done," he said.

Another issue that will affect Turyahikayo's performance is the gravity water scheme in Nyarushanje, which was recently taken over by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation that installed meters on every tap. Residents accuse their MP 0f being behind the move.

Another candidate in the race is David Tushabomwe Ndindirize, who is contesting for the third time.

Ndindirize said he has no problem with the scientific campaigns because the voters know him well.

He said they will get the best elections ever since there will be no tampering with the results since voting will be by lining up.

"In the past elections, in a village with 600 voters, you would find a candidate getting 1,300 votes and you wonder where they came from," he said.

Other candidates are Godfrey Katamba, Airen Twebaze, Levi Musinguzi, Tracy Asiimwe, Peter Bitambara, Davis Bingana Nkunda, Gloria Tukahirwa and Andrew Mugisha.

FDC candidate speaks out 

Naboth Namanya, who won the Forum for Democratic Change flag recently, said he is not worried about whoever will carry the NRM flag.

"I am ready to tussle it out with whoever will come because the people who supported me during the FDC primaries will continue doing so until I get into Parliament," Namanya said.

Rubabo county had been known to be an NRM stronghold since 1996, until the recent district Woman MP byelections, when the majority of the people voted for FDC candidate Betty Bamukwatsa Muzanira.