The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party says that the Kisoro Woman Member of Parliament by-election was a clear indication that the Independent National Electoral Commission cannot organize a free and fair election.

This has been disclosed by the Party Spokesperson John Kikonyogo during a press conference at the party headquarters saying that the Commission in itself failed to find ways of preventing electoral malpractices.

Kikonyogo pointed out incidents where police openly confirmed that they were in search for the Bufumbira North MP John Kamara who was allegedly involved in ballot stuffing at Busanani Polling Station in Busanza Sub-County that left eight persons arrested over allegations of inciting violence and disrupting the voting process.

Kikonyogo says such incidents in just a mere by-election in presence of the Electoral Commission top officers leaves a lot of questions whether Ugandans should expect a just election come the 2026 general elections.

It should be noted that the Kisoro District Returning Officer Dan Nayebale who managed the election declared independent candidate Grace Akifeza Ngabirano as the winner of the Kisoro Woman Member of Parliament replacing late Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi who was also the State Minister for defence who passed away on September 7th this year.

Ngabirano polled 50,459 votes to beat the former MP Rose Kabagyeni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) by about 6,000 votes and other four candidates who were in the race.

By Olivia Nabaggala

18 Nov 2024

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