Summary:
- Akifeza announced plans to deploy independent election observers to monitor the election process on polling day next week.
KISORO: The campaigns for the Kisoro Woman Member of Parliament by-election kicked off, with Grace Ngabirano Akifeza, an independent candidate, revealing her plans to deploy independent election observers to monitor the election process on polling day next week following the alleged vote rigging in the recent NRM primaries.
Rose Kabagyeni, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture, won the NRM primaries with 39,941 votes, narrowly defeating Akifeza, who received 39,197 votes. However, Akifeza recounted how her votes were reportedly manipulated in favor of the NRM flag bearer, Kabagyeni.
Ephraim Kaziimba, the LC1 Chairman for Kikobero Cell in Nkuringo Town Council, corroborated Akifeza’s claims, stating that votes were inflated to favor Kabagyeni. He cited the Kikobero polling station, where he claimed that the NRM Electoral Commission recorded 663 votes for Kabagyeni instead of the 163 votes initially counted.
Addressing supporters at her first campaign rally on Monday in Nkuringo Town Council, Akifeza said she was dissatisfied with the primary election results and decided to run as an independent candidate in the general by-election. She alleged that her agents faced intimidation at multiple polling stations, were denied access to declaration forms, and that the NRM Electoral Commission announced its own generated results.
She encouraged her supporters to stay strong, united, and vigilant to safeguard their votes.
CUE IN AKIFEZA….ON THE MATTER….RR/ENG//
