NRM’s Muwonge announced winner of Kayunga LC5 by-election; NUP’s Nakweede protests

The Electoral Commission has declared NRM candidate Andrew Muwonge the winner of the hotly contested Kayunga LC5 seat in results announced on Friday morning.

In a close to call election, the Kayunga Returning Officer, Jennifer Kyobutungi, announced that having got 31,830 votes against Nakweede’s 31,380, NRM’s Muwonge had beaten her closest rival with just 450 votes.

The same race that attracted six candidates, independent candidate Majid Nyanzi came third with 1297 votes, followed by Musisi Boniface Bandikubi (Independent), 470, votes, Jamilu Kamoga, 279 and Democratic Party’s Anthony Wadimba got 158 votes.

“Being the Returning Officer for Kayunga electoral district and having added the number of votes cast as recorded on each declaration of results form,in accordance with the Local Government Act cap 243, I declare Muwonge Andrew who has obtained the highest number of votes winner for Kayunga electoral district,” Kyobutungi said.

Following the declaration, the NRM candidate applauded his supporters for the love showered to him.

“I am here for unity. This is what the people of Kayunga have been yearning for. I called upon the people of Kayunga to unite and take the district forward. This is our home,”Muwonge said.

Delay

There was a delay in the announcement of results for a number of hours as the Electoral Commission computed the results from the various polling stations.

Whereas the compilation and computation started as early as 8pm on Thursday, it was not until 9am, on Friday, almost 13 hours later for the election body to announce the results.

However, the Electoral Commission Secretary, Leonard Mulekwa apologized for the “unintended” delay.

“It wasn’t planned that we delay. Please accept our sincere apologies. It must have caused anxiety, but it was not planned or designed in this way. “It happens sometimes, and it doesn’t,” Mulekwa said.

Justice Simon Byabakama, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, praised the candidates, their agents, and supporters for their patience.

He urged the losers, on the other hand, to accept the election results and, if they were not satisfied, to challenge them through the legal system.

“Let the victorious and defeated know that Kayunga is greater than any single person.” Bring Kayunga back into the fold, serve your people, and ensure that the district and Uganda as a whole improve,” Byabakama said.

“It is our desire and commitment to work with Ugandans to ensure that elections are peaceful and transparent, and that no matter what happens, you must always follow the law.” If any problems arise, follow the legal procedures.”

Protests by the Nakweede

Following the announcement of the results, NUP candidate Harriet Nakweede, who spent more than 10 hours at the tally center protested the election’s outcome, claiming “manipulation.”

“It can’t possibly be true.” The outcomes are unacceptable to me. Our tally center predicted that we would win the by-election by a margin of 15000 votes. Something isn’t quite right. “At many polling places, the number of votes cast exceeded the number of voters,” stated Nakweede.

“We are declaring war on the administration of the NRM.” We can’t let this go on like this.”

Nakweede also mentioned a squabble between security and one of her agents, John Mary Ssebuwufu, who was thrown out of the counting center after rejecting some of the Electoral Commission’s results.

This, according to the NUP candidate, indicated a malicious move.