The state minister for Labour, Mwesigwa Rukutana has in a twist of events been declared the winner of the Rushenyi County National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primary election.
Rukutana was announced as winner by the NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi on Wednesday - weeks after Ntungamo district NRM registrar, Maria Mirembe declared Naome Kabasharira winner of the highly contested primaries.
Mirembe's declaration prompted Rukutana to petition Dr Odoi for a vote recount. However, both candidates raised queries on the controversy surrounding voting in Nyakahita village in Rugarama sub-county, which forced Odoi to visit the area over the weekend to establish facts on the ground before making the final declaration.
Mirembe's declaration prompted Rukutana to petition Dr Odoi for a vote recount. However, both candidates raised queries on the controversy surrounding voting in Nyakahita village in Rugarama sub-county, which forced Odoi to visit the area over the weekend to establish facts on the ground before making the final declaration.
According to Odoi, Rukutuna polled 25,310 votes (46.27 per cent) to beat his closest rival, Kabasharira who garnered 25,290 votes (46.23 per cent).
Bob Nahabwe came third with 2,270 votes followed by Nicholas Niwahereza with 1,229 votes, Norman Beigana Kashereka 350 votes and Elia Bwagara Mwesigwa 256 votes.
"I, therefore, declare Mwesigwa Rukutana who has polled the highest number of votes as the duly elected NRM flag bearer for Rushenyi Constituency Member of Parliament 2020," Odoi said.
"I, therefore, declare Mwesigwa Rukutana who has polled the highest number of votes as the duly elected NRM flag bearer for Rushenyi Constituency Member of Parliament 2020," Odoi said.
"When we last met here on the issue of Rushenyi, the contestation was on in Nyakahita village. We had tallied results and all that was waiting was results from Nyakahita. We've tallied results, I can confirm that I visited Nyakahita, I interacted with 42 ladies and 16 men. I also interacted with 8 drunkards but who were still in their sense because in research you don't just minimise everybody," added Odoi.
A group of people suspected to be supporters of Kabasarira have been demonstrating in Rwahi, Rubaare and Rwentobo town councils in Ntungamo district for the past week protesting the earlier declaration by Odoi that put Rukutana in the lead with 20 votes and delayed declaration of the winner.
On September 21, 2020, Odoi threatened to disqualify the candidate behind the demonstrations and asked for two days to declare the winner.
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