Annet Musika who was announced winner as the NRM flagbearer for the Jinja City woman legislator. Photo by Jackie Nambogga

ELECTION WATCH 

The Electoral Commission of the ruling National Resistance Movement party, has finally announced the outcome for the party primaries of the Jinja City woman that remained undeclared since September 4, 2020.

In a declaration form signed by the National deputy chairperson of the NRM electoral commission, John Kigyagi Arimpa, the former Jinja district councilor for the then Budondo sub-county, Annet Musika, was declared as the party's flag bearer after polling 11,597 (33.4) votes beating 6 others in the hotly contested race.

The Jinja district NRM returning officer, Kiwanuka Kabaale, couldn't announce the outcome from the polls, instead he forwarded it to the party headquarters for verification and declaration.

This was after three of the candidates claiming victory, hence prompting Kabaale to submit the matter to his superiors.

Since then, candidates and their supporters had been on tension until September 22, 2020 when the verdict was determined.

According to the declaration form, Leah Naigaga Tumukunde, came second with 8,263 (24%) followed by, Irene Milka Sobya ,who polled 7,410 (21%) while Mary Namuyomba, got 3,885 (11%).

Others in the race included Jinja based radio presenter, Esther Mirembe , former Jinja district councilor, the then Bugembe town council,l Nusura Nabukalu and former Jinja district deputy speaker, Loy Kabanda.

They polled 2,360 (7%), 1,015 (3%) and 213 (0.6%) respectively.

"I therefore declare, Annet Musika who has polled the highest number of votes as the duly elected NRM flag bearer for Jinja City woman MP 2020," reads the declaration form, signed by Kigyagi.

However, like Nabukalu, Namuyomba, Tumukunde and Nabukalu, also Mirembe told New Vision that they were not invited at the party's EC to hear their side regarding the mess that was in their voting.

"There were incidents of changing results on declaration forms, intimidation and if such issues go unattended to, they discourage members from participating in internal politics," Tumukunde said.

Unlike Nabukalu, who later conceded defeat vowing to campaign for their presidential candidate alone, Tumukunde, Namuyomba and Mirembe vowed to contest as independents in the forthcoming general elections.

Despite trailing, Kabanda said she was still consulting before she would also announce her next move.

However, Musika said she was aware that polls tear voters apart saying her role was to bring them together and support her since she has another big task ahead that needs joint efforts.

"I know we are all divided as party members because each camp wished to go through, but I thank God that I was declared the winner. However, we need to come together and win in the bigger general elections," she urged.