Rukungiri– Mwesigwa Mathias Rwabugumi has been declared as the winner of the Rubabo county NRM party by –elections that were held today 8th September 2025 in Rukungiri district.
The elections were for looking the NRM Party flag bearer for Rubabo county following the nullification of the party flag bearer who was announced on 17th. July 2025.
About 3 weeks ago, the NRM party elections tribunal nullified the victory of Mwesigwa Mathias Rwabugumi who was declared the party’s flag bearer in the mid July 2025 NRM party elections and ordered for fresh elections in 6 villages where the petitioner Alex bob Rugonde complained that the voting process that was not done in accordance with the guidelines that were put in place by the NRM party electoral commission.
The 6 villages are Nyakiju, Nyamambo, Rwere, Rugarama, Kisharara all in Buyanja sub- county and Nyamambo cell in Kebisoni town council.
This forced the NRM party elections tribunal to nullify the victory of Rwabugumi thus today’s fresh elections.
In today’s NRM party by elections, Rwabugumi was declared as the party’s flag bearer by the Rukungiri district NRM party elections officer Mr Katureeba Elisa.
Poll results declared by the party elections officer indicate that Rwabugumi polled 10,736 defeating Alex bob Rugonde who polled 10,603 votes.
Others in the race were Twebaze Doreen who polled 1906 votes, Ngabirano Katara polled 4,421 votes, Busingye Doreen 7,714 while Twinomujuni Justus polled 104 votes.
Addressing media after his declaration, Mathias Rwabugumi hailed the NRM election commission for organizing a peaceful election that has been conducted in a free and fair way.
‘’ I know it has been a challenge everyone has been waiting for this day but finally it has come to an end and I have emerged the winner. I want to thank the district leadership, NRM party electoral commission for organizing a free and fair election’’. Mr Rwabugumi said.
He also hailed Rubabo people for giving him the flag saying that he is ready to defend it in the coming 2026 general elections. He also called for unity among the NRM people saying that through unity and co-operation they will be able to win the general elections.
‘’ I can’t fail to thank the people of Rubabo County for trusting me with their vote. Their vote has made me the NRM party flag bearer for Rubabo and I promise to use it carefully in the coming 2026 general elections’’. Mr Rwabugumi added.
Mr Alex Bob Rugonde who lost the flag to Mathias Rwabugumi said the election was peaceful though it was married by voter bribery and intimidation.
‘’ The election has been peaceful apart from few incidences were voters were seriously bribed and intimidated by my political enemy. These acts of voter bribery and intimidation have contributed a lot towards my defeat but all in all the election was conducted in a peaceful manner ’’. Mr Rugonde said.
He also asked the NRM party electoral commissioner to fight this habit of bribing voters saying that it will bring a lot of problems within the party if not handled properly.
‘’ The NRM party should look in this issue as quick as possible because if not handled it will force some of us t o come as independants in the coming 2026 general elections’’. Mr Rugonde.
Adressing the media on heavy security deployment, the Rukungiri district deputy RDC Wilberforce Ongom said the heavy deployment was for keeping law and order during and after the elections.
‘’ We had to deploy heavy because we wanted free, fair and peaceful by election. So we had to deploy police and UPDF officers to keep law and order during the voting and tallying process ‘’ Mr Ongom said.
About the Rubabo county NRM by- elections
The Rubabo county NRM party by –election was as a result of the petition that was wrote by Mr Alex Bob Rugonde who petitioned the NRM party Electoral commission to nullify the victory of Mathias who was declared the NRM party Flag bearer for Rubabo county.
The petition was sent to NRM Party elections tribunal and the tribunal nullified Matthias’s victory and ordered for fresh elections in the 6 villages where the petitioner Mr Rugonde had complained the voting process was not done in accordance with NRM party elections guidelines thus Rubabo NRM party by – elections.
