By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
Following two court rulings that nullified both Bukimbiri county (Kisoro) and Busongora County South (Kasese), ordering for fresh elections, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has on Monday unveiled its candidates to raise the party flag in the forthcoming by elections in the two counties.
The unveilled are Aloysius Kighema Baguma, (Busongora County South) and James Owebeyi, candidate for Bukimbiri county in Kisoro.
The duo was endorsed by the FDC deputy president for Rwenzori region Hon. William Nzoghu on Monday June 27, at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi Kampala
“We announce Mr James Owebeyi as our parliamentary candidate for the Bukimbiri county by-election in kisoro District.” Nzoghu endorsed
He added; “We are also pleased to announce Kighema Alosious Baguma,as our Parliamentary candidate for the Busongora South constituency by-election.”
They have been given the FDC party instruments including manifesto for the 2021/2026 election, constitution, flag and a Key symbol to use as legal identities of party flagbearers during electoral activities.
During the endorsement ceremony, Hon Nzoghu asked the duo not to give in to the ruling NRM government which has for many times been accused of buying off, intimidating and making arbitrary arrests of opposition candidates to withdraw from the race and give room to NRM candidates to win.
“We know that the juntah will deploy the money and securities in these campaigns, but I want to urge our candidates not to give in to bribery and intimidations,” he urged.
The FDC Sceretary General Harold Kaijja siad the FDC is is going into this election to reclaim its victory and warned against possible voter bribery and election rigging
“The campaign this time around is reclaiming our territory. We are going to Kasese to reclaim our territory. Those who have been following it has been abattle in the court of two thugs where one eventually over stole the other and our candidate had wom them.”
“We want to warn anyone who wants to rig the election, leave your wheel behind and you will be better to live your grave made. We do not want to see the land of the Musingha who has been kept in incineration up to datein political unrests.Its tome to ask the people of Kasese not to allow anybody to use them to destroy their struggle,” he added.
He noted that the FDC is participating in other by elections in Kisoro, Kasese, Pallisa and Soroti districts both parliamentary and at Local Government levels assuring Ugandans of victory.
“Those who have been seeing the clouds, they know its about to rain. We know that Mr. Museveni is more interested in Kasese but with our indomnable Chairman, on ground, we believe we will give Ugandans what they deserve.” Kaijja
Saul Maate, theKasese district FDC chairman has implored Ugandans to turn up in large numbers and vote for FDC candidates in areas where by elections are going to take place
“In Busongola county South, the results of Kiyema are in the last election are very promising and there is no doubt that this time, the NRM is going to shed tears. I want to urge all Ugandans to come and support us in all these by elections so that we can teach Museveni a lesson that rigging is not enough. You can have money but its not easy to win tbe hearts of people with money.” Maate said.
The Bukimbiri county seat fell vacant on June 6th, when the Court of Appeal nullified the ‘victory’ of Eddie Kwizera (NRM) as the MP following an application filed by our James.
On June 22, the court of appeal also nullified Hon. Gideon Thembo Mujungu (NRM) as MP for Busongora county South in Kasese district and ordered for fresh elections following a successful appeal lodged by his independent rival, (FDC leaning), Mbaju Kathika.
Mujungu had been declared a winner in 2021 with 7,601 votes against Mbaju’s 7,522 votes.
Mbaju however challenged the victory in the high court accusing Mujungu of voter bribery, ballot stuffing and lack of the required academic qualifications but the case was dismissed by Justice Bictorious Katamba on grounds that it lacked substantial evidences.
Mbathi appealed the high court judgement arguing that justice Katamba had failed to evaluate the evidence before court.
On Wednesday (June 22), a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal justices led by Frederick Egonda Ntende concurred with Mbaju.
According to the Judges; “There is sufficient evidence of ballot pre-ticking, balloting stuffing, and multiple voting, which is strengthened by the fact that the 100% voter turn recorded at one polling station could not have been possible given the fact that there were people who had died and some who did not vote but were still on the voters register.”
In both incidents, that is to say; the Busongora county South and Bukimbiri county election petitions, courts cited out voter bribery, ballot stuffing among other irregularities henceforth, ordered for by elections.
EC speaks out
The election regulatory body in Uganda,; the Electoral Commission recently announced that the by election in Bukimbiri county will be conducted on August 11.
Paul Bukenya, the EC acting spokesperson noted the by-election programme will commence with an update of the national voters’ register from Monday 20th to Friday 24th June, 2022 at update stations in each of the twenty-four (24) parishes of Bukimbiri county.
He also said that between July 12 and July 27, the EC will display voter registers in all the 72 polling stations of Bukimbiri county thereafter the nomination of all candidates on Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd August, 2022, by the Kisoro district returning officer.
By Press time, the EC had not released the official statement on the by election of Busongora County South.
