Four in tight race for Rubanda East

A tight race is gaining ground in Rubanda East as candidates tussle it out for the 2021 parliamentary seat.

The contestants are Henry Musasizi, who is battling the Rubanda district chairperson, Kenneth Jogo Biryabarema, Archilles Byaruhanga, the executive director of Nature Uganda and National Unity Platform's (NUP) Jasper Ayebare.

Biryabarema, who was defeated by Musasizi during the NRM primaries, opted to return as an independent.

NRM PRIMARIES

Musasizi had a tight race in the NRM party primaries, where he emerged a wounded winner. He polled 22,863 votes (50.3%), while Biryabarema came second with 22,635 votes (49.7%).

This followed re-tallying of 16 disputed polling stations as recommended by the party elections tribunal after cancelling Musasizi's victory on September 29.

At first, Musasizi had been declared the winner by Rubanda NRM district registrar Monday Aggrey with 23,330 votes and Biryabarema with 22,412 votes.

Biryabarema protested the results and petitioned the Electoral Commission, accusing Musasizi of conniving with the party district registrar, Gaudioza Kabondo, an official from the party's electoral commission and Dezi Christmas, the district party administrator, to rig the election.

ELECTION VIOLENCE

During the elections, acts of violence, as well as accusations of sabotage from both camps, were the order of the day Twenty-five-year-old Sharp Ngabirano, a resident of Ikamiro village in Nyamweru sub-county was reportedly attacked by four youth at Rwakaruma trading centre in Bigungiro parish on his way home.

According to Ngabirano, a group of youth allegedly attacked him for supporting Biryabarema.

"These youth started assaulting me, before one of them, identified as Believe Owamani Kadiba, a resident of Ikamiro village, pulled a machete from his jacket and hacked me on the head and thumb, before fleeing," he recalls.

In August, Deus Bonane, the Hamurara village LC1 chairperson in Bubaare sub-county, stabbed his defence secretary, Moses Tumusiime, over allegedly supporting Biryabarema.

Bonane was arrested for assault and released by court on bail.

On July 28, Julius Bigabwaho, 43, a resident of Kyokyezo village in Nyamweru sub-county, was arrested while destroying Musasizi's billboard that had been erected at Nyamweru trading centre.

According to Justus Owoyesiga Kakwenza, the Nyamweru sub-county councillor, politics of sabotage has not been so common in Rubanda but a lot of election-related crime is steadily rising.

"The political ground in Rubanda East is getting tougher than had been expected since actions of violence are starting to rise. We had never experienced such a tight race, where competition leads to extreme acts of violence like it is happening lately. We pray that this does not escalate into deeper crimes," he said.

Musasizi accuses his opponent of allegedly fanning the violence, saying he cannot handle peaceful campaigning.

Musasizi says these actions from his opponents are among the other destructive plans he had reported to authorities as he sought guidance on how to handle them.

"I have learnt of other dubious moves being planned by our opponents, but whatever they are planning is going to turn against them since our people know which side to vote for," Musasizi said.

Biryabarema denied involvement in electoral violence, saying his opponent is seeking cheap attention.

"I am a trained legal practitioner and I respect the values of a peaceful, free and fair election. I cannot, at any point, support crime from my camp. I have also had my posters destroyed, so this is a cross-cutting challenge," Biryabarema said.

NEW PLAYERS IN THE RACE

The arrival of Archilles Byaruhanga, an environmentalist who has been known to the region for the protection of natural resources, means there is now a candidate who has no record of involvement in the previous political battles in the district.

Byaruhanga could win support from residents who are fed up with the Musasizi Biryabarema wars.

"We needed a candidate who will not bring factions in our constituency. Musasizi and Biryabarema have established permanent factions in the area and we feel voting for someone else in this race will be vital in solving these personal conflicts," Fred Katusiime, a bodaboda rider in Bubaare town council, said.

Ayebare's youthful approach to politics and his leaning to NUP's Robert Kyagulanyi has been his selling point among the youth.

"We are tired of the old regime of leaders, who do not find our issues important. We shall be voting for someone we can easily resonate with in terms of age and interests," Catherine Ninsiima, a student at Kabale University, said.