KAMPALA – State Minister for Labour Mwesigwa Rukutana is now in the lead following a recount of votes after the hotly contested elections for the Rushenyi County NRM parliamentary seat in 2021 elections.
Dr Tanga Odoi, the NRM electoral commission chairman, announced on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, that after a vote recount, Mr Rukutana is now in the lead but that he will declare the eventual winner in two days.
On September 5, Ms Naome Kabasharira was declared winner with 24,006 votes while Mr. Rukutana garnered 23,966 votes leaving a difference of only 40 votes.
While Mr Rukutana had rejected the out-come of the election, the aftermath was overshadowed by an incident where he was caught on video, appearing to draw a gun against two campaign agents of his opponent. The minister was eventually arrested, charged with attempted murder and remanded.
However, upon his release on bail on Tuesday, 15 September 2020, Dr Tanga announced that following a recount of 12 polling areas, the minister is now in the lead.
However, he said one area called Nyakahita wasn’t declared because the declaration forms were not readily available. So Dr Tanga has told both parties that he will declare the results in 2 days.
He said results of Rubaare Sub County, which is considered Rukutana’s stronghold, had not been tallied and when they returned, they indicated that the minister was the winner.
