The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
✳ Rukutana 25,310 – 46.3%
✳ Kabasharira 25,290 – 46.2%
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT & URN | The chairperson of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party-Electoral Commission Dr Tanga Odoi has declared State Minister of Labor Mwesigwa Rukutana winner of the Rushenyi County NRM party primary elections.
This after a recount following a petition filed by Rukutana challenging the outcome that earlier gave victory to his political nemesis Naome Kabasharira.
Dr Odoi earlier said they went through the results village by village as the candidates confirmed that they are the right ones and after tallying, the tally gave Rukutana a slim 20 vote advantage, which was maintained to the end. In the initial tally, Kabasharira had been declared the winner with 24,006 votes while Rukutana had 23,966 votes.
Following the violence that erupted in the county and the petition filed by Rukutana’s team to the party’s national electoral commission, Dr Odoi suspended the declaration of Rushenyi results even though the district registrar had announced Kabasharira the victor.
Dr Odoi says there was contention from both parties over Nyakahita cell polling station in Rugarama sub-county. He says Kabasharira was contesting the declaration forms of Nyakahita cell that Rukutana’s team presented noting that there was no voting at the said polling station.
Minister Rukutana was recently released on bail by the Chief Magistrates’ court in Ntungamo. Rukutana is charged with seven counts related to attempted murder, assault and malicious damage to property and threatening violence.
