By Patriot Coprs
The nomination process for the Kisoro Woman Member of Parliament by-election commenced on Wednesday, with two candidates successfully nominated on the first day of the exercise.
The two-day nomination event is being held at the Kisoro District Hall, overseen by Kisoro District Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Daniel Nayebare. The first candidate nominated was the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer, Rose Kabagyeni, at 3 p.m. Kabagyeni, in her remarks, pledged to promote transparent leadership and focus on poverty eradication through government programs. She emphasized her commitment to completing unfinished projects from her previous term and, if re-elected, plans to prioritize development in tourism infrastructure, schools, and health facilities within the district. She further called for unity among Kisoro’s leaders, urging them to work together for the district’s progress.
At 4:40 p.m., the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate, Juliet Musanase, accompanied by FDC members led by Toteberuka Tibamwenda, FDC’s Electoral Commission Chairperson, arrived for her nomination. Musanase, making her fifth attempt at the Kisoro Woman MP seat, expressed determination to strengthen her party amid internal political challenges. Meanwhile, Ramanthan Ndikuyeze, the Kisoro NRM Vice Chairperson, warned local leaders within the district against sowing discord by not supporting the party’s nominated candidate, stressing that unity within the NRM is essential.
Returning Officer Daniel Nayebare noted that five parties have fielded candidates: the NRM, FDC, Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), National Unity Platform (NUP), and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Additionally, two independent candidates, Grace Akifeza Ngabirano and Jemimah Irankunda, will contest. Both independents had participated in the recent NRM primaries but did not secure the party’s nomination.
In a related development, Susan Natukunda, a second-year student at Metropolitan International University in Kisoro and the guild speaker, was declared the UPC flag bearer on Wednesday following party primaries led by UPC President James Jimmy Akena.
Meanwhile, PPP candidate Aisha Chimpaye arrived at 5:10 p.m., past the nomination cut-off of 5 p.m., and was advised by Nayebare to return on Thursday for her nomination. Nayebare reminded all candidates to develop and submit a campaign plan to the Kisoro District Electoral Commission office before the official campaign launch scheduled for Friday.
source : chimp reports
