Rukungiri – Losers in the just concluded National Resistance Movement party primaries in Rukungiri district have declined to concede defeat vowing to take action.

On Thursday last week, the national resistance movement (NRM) Party held nationwide party primary elections whose aim was to elect party flag bearers for directly elected MPs and Woman legislators.However, the aftermath has been marked by accusations of vote rigging, intimidation, and lack of transparency, leading to a brewing crisis within the local NRM structures.

The candidates who lost the polls, representing various constituencies within Rukungiri, have come together and expressed  their dissatisfaction with how the electoral process was conducted.

They claim that the results announced by the Electoral Commission of the NRM were manipulated to favor certain individuals, undermining the democratic principles the party stands for.

The losers who include 2 incumbent members of parliament, one for Rukungiri municipality and the other for Rukungiri district woman Member of Parliament rejected the poll results saying they will contest as independents in the coming 2026 general elections.

They cited irregularities like bribery, ballot stuffing and poor organization of the elections as reasons for rejecting the poll results.

Dr Elisa Rutahigwa who was running for Rukungiri municipality parliamentary party flag but lost to Gen Henry Tumukunde has refused to concede defeat saying that his supporters bribed.

” I can’t accept this defeat because the whole exercise was full of irregularities. My supporters were bribed and some were even beaten by my fellow competitors. On polling day, a lot of money was given to my agents which greatly contributed to my defeat’’   Dr Rutahigwa told daily monitor.

Dr Rutahigwa added ” The exercise was marred by several irregularities that includes voter bribery, intimidation and violence during election day”. 

Dr Rutahigwa who is the current mp for Rukungiri municipality asked his supporters to remain calm saying that he has already petitioned the NRM party election commission.

‘’ I want you  to remain calm and focused, very soon I will announce my next step of action ’’ Dr Rutahigwa said.

Mr Andrew Kikira Ankunda who was also on the race for  the party flag to Rtd. Lt.Gen Henry Tumukunde  said his supporters were denied a chance to vote and the exercise had several irregularities which they cannot allow to go unaddressed.

” Am  not going to petition the  NRM party elections office because the secretariat is so chaotic that the same bribery which happened here might also happen there as well ” Mr Kikira said.

Alex Bob Rugonde who also the lost the NRM party flag for Rubabo county in Rukungiri district  said ” supporting Mathias Mwesigwa the official candidate for the party would mean supporting a thief because he allegedly participated in rigging the elections.”

Mr Rugonde added that ” the elections were not free and fair because my victory was robbed by Mr Mathias Mwesigwa who was illegally declared the NRM flag bearer for Rubabo county”.

The Rukungiri district woman member of Parliament Ms Medius Natukunda Kaharata who also in the battle for the NRM party flag but lost the flag said she will contest as an independent.

“My supporters don’t lose hope because I have finally decided to come as an independent candidate because I strongly reject the results from National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party Primaries because of vote rigging”. Ms Kaharata said.

The Mp added “In some areas especially in Rubabo County voting was marked by sectarianism were Catholics being forced to vote a candidate selected by their religious leaders.This thing negatively impacted my supporters who were catholics” 

The impact of Rejection.

The rejection of the NRM primary results by the losing candidates in Rukungiri highlights the challenges of internal party democracy and the need for transparent, accountable electoral processes. 

The rejection also calls for investigation and action underscore the importance of fairness in political contests, which is essential for maintaining trust and cohesion within the ruling party as it prepares for the national elections ahead.

The situation of rejecting has sparked concern among party supporters and local residents, many of whom fear that the dispute could lead to divisions within the NRM and weaken its chances in the forthcoming general elections. 

As the dispute unfolds, the political atmosphere in Rukungiri remains tense, with supporters of both the winning and losing candidates mobilizing their bases. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the party can reconcile these differences or if the fallout will have lasting implications for its unity and electoral prospects in the district.

On Tue, Jul 22, 2025, 2:13 PM kabanza ronald <ronaldkabanza9@gmail.com> wrote:

Rukungiri NRM Poll losers reject results vows to take action.

By Ronald Kabanza.

Rukungiri – Losers in the just concluded National Resistance Movement party primaries in Rukungiri district have declined to concede defeat vowing to take action.

On Thursday last week, the national resistance movement (NRM) Party held nationwide party primary elections whose aim was to elect party flag bearers for directly elected MPs and Woman legislators.However, the aftermath has been marked by accusations of vote rigging, intimidation, and lack of transparency, leading to a brewing crisis within the local NRM structures.

The candidates who lost the polls, representing various constituencies within Rukungiri, have come together and expressed  their dissatisfaction with how the electoral process was conducted.

They claim that the results announced by the Electoral Commission of the NRM were manipulated to favor certain individuals, undermining the democratic principles the party stands for.

The losers who include 2 incumbent members of parliament, one for Rukungiri municipality and the other for Rukungiri district woman Member of Parliament rejected the poll results saying they will contest as independents in the coming 2026 general elections.

They cited irregularities like bribery, ballot stuffing and poor organization of the elections as reasons for rejecting the poll results.

Dr Elisa Rutahigwa who was running for Rukungiri municipality parliamentary party flag but lost to Gen Henry Tumukunde has refused to concede defeat saying that his supporters bribed.

” I can’t accept this defeat because the whole exercise was full of irregularities. My supporters were bribed and some were even beaten by my fellow competitors. On polling day, a lot of money was given to my agents which greatly contributed to my defeat’’   Dr Rutahigwa told daily monitor.

Dr Rutahigwa added ” The exercise was marred by several irregularities that includes voter bribery, intimidation and violence during election day”. 

Dr Rutahigwa who is the current mp for Rukungiri municipality asked his supporters to remain calm saying that he has already petitioned the NRM party election commission.

‘’ I want you  to remain calm and focused, very soon I will announce my next step of action ’’ Dr Rutahigwa said.

Mr Andrew Kikira Ankunda who was also on the race for  the party flag to Rtd. Lt.Gen Henry Tumukunde  said his supporters were denied a chance to vote and the exercise had several irregularities which they cannot allow to go unaddressed.

” Am  not going to petition the  NRM party elections office because the secretariat is so chaotic that the same bribery which happened here might also happen there as well ” Mr Kikira said.

Alex Bob Rugonde who also the lost the NRM party flag for Rubabo county in Rukungiri district  said ” supporting Mathias Mwesigwa the official candidate for the party would mean supporting a thief because he allegedly participated in rigging the elections.”

Mr Rugonde added that ” the elections were not free and fair because my victory was robbed by Mr Mathias Mwesigwa who was illegally declared the NRM flag bearer for Rubabo county”.

The Rukungiri district woman member of Parliament Ms Medius Natukunda Kaharata who also in the battle for the NRM party flag but lost the flag said she will contest as an independent.

“My supporters don’t lose hope because I have finally decided to come as an independent candidate because I strongly reject the results from National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party Primaries because of vote rigging”. Ms Kaharata said.

The Mp added “In some areas especially in Rubabo County voting was marked by sectarianism were Catholics being forced to vote a candidate selected by their religious leaders.This thing negatively impacted my supporters who were catholics” 

The impact of Rejection.

The rejection of the NRM primary results by the losing candidates in Rukungiri highlights the challenges of internal party democracy and the need for transparent, accountable electoral processes. 

The rejection also calls for investigation and action underscore the importance of fairness in political contests, which is essential for maintaining trust and cohesion within the ruling party as it prepares for the national elections ahead.

The situation of rejecting has sparked concern among party supporters and local residents, many of whom fear that the dispute could lead to divisions within the NRM and weaken its chances in the forthcoming general elections. 

As the dispute unfolds, the political atmosphere in Rukungiri remains tense, with supporters of both the winning and losing candidates mobilizing their bases. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the party can reconcile these differences or if the fallout will have lasting implications for its unity and electoral prospects in the district.