On Saturday, NUP released a statement announcing that it has withdrawn Mutabazi to support Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s James Owebeyi Mugyemani.
Joshua
Mutabazi, the National Unity Platform- NUP party flag bearer who was withdrawn
from the Bukimbiri county by-election race has crossed to the National Resistance
Movement (NRM) party.
Mutabazi was
nominated on Tuesday to contest with Owebeyi, Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu of the
National Resistance Movement (NRM)-party, and independent candidate Edward
Mutabazi.
But without
reason, Mutabazi did not participate in campaigns that started last week, and a
day later, the party issued a statement announcing that it has withdrawn its
support for the candidate. On Saturday, NUP released a statement announcing
that it has withdrawn Mutabazi to support Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s
James Owebeyi Mugyemani.
On Tuesday,
NRM party leaders led by Vice president Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah
Nabbanja and Chris Baryomunsi, Minister for Information and National guidance
held a press conference at Gorilla Heights hotel in Nkuringo town council and
presented Mutabazi as a new member of the NRM party.
Nabbanja says
that she received a phone call on Monday from one of the Kisoro District NRM
leaders informing her that Mutabazi wants to meet her. Nabanja says that
Mutabazi openly told her that he wants to cross to NRM.
//Cue in:
“Yesterday I got
… Cue out:
…you ours.”//
Mutabazi
says that other NUP members in the area will join the NRM party.
//Cue in:
“formally I was…
Cue out: …
resistance movement.”//
Voting in
Bukimbiri is scheduled to take place on August 11, 2022. The by-election stems
from the court of Appeal's decision to nullify the victory of Kwizera citing
irregularities following a successful application by Owebeyi.
In his application, Owebeyi argued that although the candidate's photos and
party symbols that appeared on ballot papers were genuine, they carried
different names. The ballot papers carried the names of Arthur Kazoora
Atuzarirwe as the NRM flag bearer, Didas Byaruhanga Kagyinda as the FDC flag
bearer, and Victor Atwiine and Donzio Kahonda Mugabe as independent candidates
yet none of them were from the area.
On Tuesday,
the District received materials that will be used in the by-election. The
materials include 72 metallic boxes, 80 transparent boxes, 80 basins, cordoning
tapes, and solar lamps.
There are 72
polling stations in Bukimbiri County.
