By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
MITOOMA
Voters in Ruhinda South County have elected National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer Arthur Atuhwereire Kazoora as their Member of Parliament, defeating incumbent Donozio Mugabe Kahonda (Rtd Capt) in the January 15 general elections.
According to results announced by the Mitooma District returning officer, Hon Kazoora secured 12,163 votes (53.04%) against Hon Kahonda’s 9,793 (42.70%) votes to clinch the seat. Kahonda, who has represented the area since 2016 and was seeking a third term, was defeated after contesting as an independent following his loss in the NRM party primaries last September.
Another candidate, Rtd Capt Bernard Kamukama, also running as an independent, finished third after obtaining 976 (4.26%) votes.
Kahonda was first voted out in the party primaries, where Kazoora emerged the NRM flag bearer. Despite party guidelines discouraging independent bids after primaries, Kahonda proceeded to contest and was again rejected by voters.
Ruhinda South County was created in 2020 from the former greater Ruhinda County. Kahonda had previously served as the area’s MP and became the first MP for Ruhinda South after defeating Kazoora in the 2021 elections. Kazoora’s victory now makes him the second MP for the constituency.
Kazoora is expected to be sworn in as the duly elected MP in May 2025, ahead of the 12th Parliament.
By press time, Kahonda had not publicly conceded defeat. However, congratulatory messages for Kazoora were already pouring in from business leaders, academicians, opinion leaders and religious figures across Mitooma District.
