Kaboyo of the National Resistance Movement-NRM Party won the hotly contested Hoima City Mayoral seat on January 20,2020 after garnering 12,451 votes beating the Incumbent Mayor Grace Mary Mugasa who contested as an Independent candidate and three other candidates. Mugasa had 12, 298 votes.
On Monday, Karuhanga agents were surprised to find the symbol of a clock on the ballot papers attached to her photo instead of a ball, which is contrary to what she had chosen.
The concern by Civil Society Organizations comes days after President Yoweri Museveni ordered the suspension of DGF, the single biggest donor basket established by Development Partners to provide harmonized, coherent and well-coordinated support to state and non-state entities in the country.
Walukagga who contested on a NUP ticket polled 17133 votes followed by Geoffrey Ssebagala of the NRM party with 5,882 votes, Adrian Sseryazi an independent scored 1,371 votes in the third place while Democratic party –DP David Muweera got 1245 votes in the fourth position while FDC’s Sulaiman Ddumba Seriso polled 199 votes.
The agency cited wanton killings by security forces, arrests and beatings of opposition supporters and journalists, disruption of opposition rallies, and a shutdown of the internet as major setbacks in the pursuit of democracy and the rule of law.
Mfasingabo contested as an independent after losing the NRM primaries. Other candidates in the race include the Ann Nasaka from the National Unity Platform-NUP who polled 2,209 votes and independent, Eliot Besimaki who managed 1057 votes.
Canon Awodi, the Diocesan Secretary for Kampala diocese challenged the leaders and contenders to remember that the progress and stability of the country in in their hands and that anything that triggers unrest and bloodshed will have lasting effects on the country.
Henry Muguzi from the Alliance for Campaign Finance Monitoring (ACFIM) says that over the past years, a lot of things have happened on the political arena. H says politics is more paying compared to other sectors in the country, making it the most attractive for anyone who wants to make money.
The stretch from Nakawa to Namanve is heavily guarded by the Military Police, Uganda Police and Local Defense Unit personnel, mainly around Spear Motors, Kyambogo Road, Kireka Trading Centre and Bweyogerere.
This was revealed by the Attorney General William Byaruhanga while presenting a statement to Parliament on Wednesday. Earlier, Parliament had tasked the Attorney General to announce the specific dates whose absence was affecting aspirant’s campaign and election programs
The security personnel who are meant to ensure there is strict adherence to hand washing and standard operating procedures at Rubaga are camped outside the gate and interacting with some of the candidates. No temperature is being checked for anybody, and almost everyone is wearing their facemask like a necklace.
Businge polled 12,877 votes while Wembabazi had 13,934 votes. the other contestant Juliet Kusiima came third with 484 votes, according to the results which were read by Hoima NRM Registrar Brian Mugenyi at Kitara secondary school tally centre.
The Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission Dr Tanga Odoi told URN this morning that the elections were halted after sparks of violence between supporters of the area MP Harriet Mugenyi Businge and her main challenger Beatrice Wembabazi.
According to the notice dated August 14, all aspirants for Parliamentary Seats are supposed to pay 100,000 Shillings, aspirants for all district seats, and LC III leadership seats are expected to pay 50,000 Shillings, while Town Councilors will pay 30,000 Shillings. Billboards will separately be charged a fee ranging between 30,000 and 50,000 Shillings each, depending on their sizes.
Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, the Opposition Chief Whip in Parliament, says that the opinion poll rightfully indicates that living conditions of Ugandans are bad it contradicts that Ugandans are happy with the current President.
Several legislators have welcomed the move, saying the NRM’s decision is a message that the country should actually open up for elections. They, however, warn that the government should not apply different standards to the opposition if they chose to follow the same direction.
The heavy deployment started on Wednesday morning on most streets including Main Street, Fort portal road and government road among others as the candidates vying for the Hoima Woman MP seat were being nominated.
