Rukungiri – Ms Kamateneti Ingrid Turinawe, the People’s Front for freedom ( PFF) party candidate for Rukungiri municipality parliamentary seat in Rukungiri district has refused to concede defeat following the declaration of her opponent Rtd.Lt.Gen .Henry Tumukunde by electoral commission.
On Friday 16th.January .2026, the Electoral Commission officials declared Ms Kamateneti’s rival , Lt.Gen ( Rtd) .Henry Tumukunde of national Resistance Movement ( NRM) party as the winner of the Rukungiri municipality parliamentary seat following general elections which were conducted by the electoral commission on 15th January 2026. Her opponent won the election by a slim 847-vote margin.
Addressing a press briefing at her home in Farmers cell Western division Rukungiri municipality in Rukungiri district recently , Ms Kamateneti said the polls were fraught with thuggery.
‘’ I can’t recognize the outcome of the election and am demanding for scrutiny into the election results because at some polling stations votes casted were higher than the number of registered voters . For example Rukungiri taxi park polling station, the registered voters are 209 but votes which were casted are 250 a thing which leaves many questions in my mind. This tells me that my win was stolen ‘’ Ms Kamateneti said.
Ms Kamateneti added that ‘’ This was not an election but a military operation by the way, it was full of intimidations and it is from this background that I want to inform that Tumukunde did not defeat me .He is also aware that I defeated him where he sleeps, stays and whoever he talks with and even deep inside his heart, he knows that he did not defeat me ‘’
Commonly known by her nick name ‘’ commander of land forces ‘’, Ms Kamateneti said ‘’ without considering money he dished in, vote rigging he knows that he did not defeat me. So it’s just a matter of time, he will delay me but I will be there. And I promise my people that am going to do what it takes and I will recover my victory’’.
She assured public ( Rukungiri municipality people) that she will not allow Tumukunde to forcefully become the area member of parliament for Rukungiri municipality.
‘’The best description which I can give to Tumukunde is a ‘’terrorist ‘’ because he terrorized me, destroyed my cars, beat my campaign people, supporters just for sake of declaring himself a winner. He has managed to convince the Rukungiri district electoral commission officials to announce him as the winner of the election but his win and happiness won’t lust longer because I will cut it short. So let him not celebrate because it is not yet over’’ Ms Kamateneti added.
On her next course of action, Ms Kamateneti did not reveal her next plans but said ‘’am going to talk with my legal team and very soon I will inform my supporters my next course of action’’.
The Rukungiri municipality parliamentary seat was won by NRM’s party Rtd. Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde who polled 7115 votes. Ms Kamatenti and other 2 independent candidates were defeated because they polled fewer votes.
Ms Kamatenti polled 6268 votes, Dr Wallen Nuwagaba Independent 297 while Richard Akanyijuka also independent polled 53 votes. This is according to electoral commission officials.
The declaration of Lt.Gen.( Rtd) Henry Tumukunde as the winner of Rukungiri municipality parliamentary seat sets a new political error in the political history of Rukungiri municipality because of it being the home of the well known opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye.
This action also leaves many asking themselves as they can’t define the future of opposition in Rukungiri district since all the four parliamentary positions were taken by NRM party according to the results which were released by electoral commission on 16th and 17th January 2026.
According to electoral commission, Rujumbura parliamentary seat was taken by Rtd.Maj, Gen. Jim K Muhwezi after pulling 25007 votes beating five (5) other candidates, including former mp for Rujumbura county Fred Tumuhweirwe Turyamuhweza of People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) Party who polled 23307 votes, Ariho Nasaira of FDC Party 439 votes, Independent Gerald Karenzi Kooli 285 votes, Simon Niwagaba independent who polled 11o votes and Tumuhimbise Hillary of National unity platform ( NUP) Party who polled 252 votes.
Rubabo county was also taken by Mr Mwesigwa Mathias Rabugumi of NRM who polled 16102 votes beating other 8 candidates including the incumbent mp Naboth Namanya of PFF party who pulled 14,780 votes, , independent’s Bob Alex Rugonde who polled 13545 votes, Nabasa Allan of FDC party 548 votes, Nshabamagara Eunice of DP polled 55 votes, Andrew Niwabiine independent got 971, Ngabirano Arnest Katara independent got 313 votes, Tumwebaze Moreen independent got 147 votes, Ndindiriize Tushabomwe David independent polled 3452 votes.
While Rukungiri district woman representative parliamentary seat , Ms Mary Paula Turyahikayo Kebirungi of NRM won the seat with 59,448 votes defeating other 4 candidates including the incumbent Ms Medius Natukunda Kaharata of independent who pulled 32,794 votes , Former Woman mp Ms Betty Bamukwatsa Muzanira of PFF party who polled 18,227 votes followed by Nabasa Innocent Kashobera independent polled 1,063 votes while Tsanyuke Christine of FDC polled 844 votes
