RUKUNGIRI – Dr Warren Tumwine has been declared the FDC flag bearer for the Rukungiri Municipality MP seat after trouncing five others in the party primaries.
In the party primaries held in Rukungiri on Wednesday, August 18, 2020, Dr Tumwine garnered 130 votes, while the incumbent MP Mugume Rolland Kaginda got 62. FDC mobilisation secretary Ingrid Turinawe got 65. The other contestants, Mr. Benon Rwenzigye, Mr. Herbert Mbabazi Kawawa and Mr. Francis Musimire got no vote.
The poll results are a shock to the party given that Mr Kaginda has been the FDC vice chairman for western region and the deputy opposition chief whip in Parliament. It remains to be seen if he will go Independent.
At the weekend, Betty Bamukwatsa Muzanira and Martin Byomuhangi won FDC party flags in Rukungiri for the positions of Woman MP and District Chairman, respectively.
Muzanira defeated 3 others, including Winnie Babihuga, Phyllis Ariho, and Annet Kadoth Namara to retain the FDC flag for Rukungiri woman MP.
Equally Mr. Byomuhangi defeated Mr. Muhamya Davis and Tayebwa Emmanuel to win the flag of Chairperson LC 5.
The primary elections took place in Rukungiri Municipal Stadium on Friday, August 14, 2020.
Ms Muzanira who lost to NRM’s Winnie Masiko in 2016 petitioned court claiming the NRM candidate bribed voters. She also wanted recount of votes cast at some of the polling stations. However, Ms Muzanira’s petition was dismissed by high court in Kabale. She appealed and the Court of Appeal on March 22, 2018 nullified the election after it found Ms Masiko guilty of giving donations during the election campaigns, and ordered the EC to organize a fresh one.
She later won the by-election in 2018.
