Rukungiri-The Electoral commission has declared 2 brush war army men Rtd.Maj.Gen Jim K Muhwezi and Rtd.Lt.Gen Henry Tumukunde of National Resistance Movement (NRM) party as the winners of Rujumbura county and Rukungiri municipality parliamentary seats respectively in the January 15th general elections.
Gen. Muhwezi , the incumbent member of parliament for Rujumbura county in Rukungiri district polled 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.
“This has been a long journey with a lot of challenges but God has been on our side and we have successfully reached the end of these campaigns with a win. I started with party primary elections which were on my side and today I have been declared as the official Rujumbura county Member of Parliament. Muhwezi said in an interview with our reporter shortly after being declared the winner on Friday 16th, January 2026.
Muhwezi also expressed gratitude to the people of Rujumbura County for trusting him with their votes to lead them for another five years.
“I thank the people of Rujumbura for this victory. We will work hard to deliver on our promises and serve the people,” he added.
In Rukungiri municipality, Rtd.Lt.Gen.Henry Tumukunde of NRM party secured 7115 votes, beating 3 other candidates, including Ms Ingrid Turiname Kanateneti of PFF party who polled 6268 votes , Dr Wallen Nuwagaba Independent 297 and Richard Akanyijuka also independent who polled 53 votes .
‘’ I want to thank the electoral commission for having organized this election and I also thank the NRM party again for campaigning very aggressively. Most importantly I thank the people of Rukungiri municipality for responding and voting me as their area member of parliament. The Rukungiri story is a long journey, the base itself is very complicated so the NRM government should thank me for securing this win out of a lot of things’’. Mr Tumukunde said shortly after being declared winner on Friday 16th January 2026.
In Rubabo county , Mwesigwa Mathias Rabugumi of NRM 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.
Addressing the press shortly after being declared as the winner Mr Rabugumi thanked Rubabo people for giving him the mandate to represent them in Uganda’s parliament.
‘’Politics time has now ended so I want to ask the people of Rubabo to come and we work together for the betterment of our area because united we stand and divided we fall so let’s cooperate’’ Mr Rabugumi said.
For Rukungiri district woman representative, 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 Tusanyuke Christine of FDC polled 844 votes
The declaration of these four NRM party candidates as winners of the four parliamentary seats completely marks the end of opposition time in Rukungiri district which has been for a long period of time known as the father of opposition in Uganda being the home district of the well known opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye who is apparently rotting in Jail on charges of treason .
