Ministers, Rukutana, Elioda, Kamukama, deny bowing out of race

Nov 11, 2020

The ministers denied bowing out of their respective races after circulating documents went viral on social media claiming that they had withdrawn from the race to support their rival candidates.

MINISTERS|POLITICS|CAMPAIGNS 

Three Ministers have denied allegations of withdrawing their candidature from the race in respective Member of Parliament seats.

These are Molly Nuwe Kamukama, the state minister for Economic Monitoring, state minister for Labour, Mwesigwa Rukutana, and Dr Elioda Tumwesigye, the minister of Science, technology, and innovation.

Kamukama, Independent is vying for Kazo woman MP seat with her rival Jennifer Rwaburibate, the NRM party flagbearer.

Rukutana, is the NRM flag-bearer for Rushenyi County facing off with Naome Kabasharira, an Independent candidate, whereas Elioda, an Independent for Sheema Municipality seat is contesting against Dickens Kateshumbwa, the NRM party flag bearer. 

The ministers denied bowing out of their respective races after circulating documents went viral on social media claiming that they, (Kamukama, Rukutana, and Elioda) had withdrawn from the race to support their rival candidates.

Documents of similar phrases that differed from the names of the candidates and their contesting constituencies, went viral on social media, on Tuesday (November 11, 2020) claiming that the ministers had bowed out of the race to support their rival candidates. 

Kamukama's document reads, that she was approached by the senior leadership of the NRM party both at NRM Secretariat and District who requested her to withdraw from the race and support her rival Rwaburibate.

"Following my nomination to run as an Independent candidate, l was approached by the concerned senior leadership of the NRM party both at NRM Secretariat and District who requested that l consider withdrawing my candidature since I'm equally an NRM supporter who firmly believes in its ideology of socio-economic transformation, patriotism, democracy and Pan-Africanism," a document claiming to be of Kamukama read in part.

Jennifer Rwaburibate Abaho Muheesi, the NRM Party flag bearer for Kazo district Woman MP seat.


However, Kamukama, rubbished the document, saying she is still in the race and is not bothered by the propaganda spread by her opponent's camp. 

That of Rukutana read, "Following events that happened during NRM primaries especially events after the election. I was declared a flag bearer but a section of people of Rushenyi was not satisfied by the whole process." 

But Rukutana, through his team, said he is still in the race and was looking for votes to beat her challenger, Kabasharira. 

Tumwesigye, who was also in the field soliciting for votes was unable to pick our calls for a response but his bodyguard who picked up told New vision that the minister is in the race and his supporters should not be disrupted by the fake documents circulating on social media. 

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