Supporters of renowned musician and journalist Mbonigaba John, popularly known as John King, stormed the Kisoro District Headquarters on Friday, demanding the official declaration of the Kisoro Municipality Mayor as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer by the district NRM returning officer.
The crowd, which had been growing increasingly agitated since Thursday, accused electoral officials of deliberately delaying the official announcement despite what they claimed was overwhelming evidence of their candidate’s victory.
The uncertainty surrounding the final declaration has sparked widespread concern across Kisoro town, with many residents suspecting possible interference in the electoral process.
On Friday, District NRM Registrar Tadeo Mujyambere was seen hastily leaving a private meeting and boarding a motorcycle. When approached by the media, Mujyambere declined to comment on the controversy.
The meeting continued behind closed doors at the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), where senior NRM officials, including district chairperson Dr. Philemon Mateke, were also in attendance.
The controversy took a new twist following a high-level meeting involving NRM stakeholders, the district security committee, and the candidates, held at the Kisoro District Headquarters.
Ramathan Ndikuyeze, one of the candidates in the tightly contested race, revealed that the meeting focused on electoral irregularities, particularly in villages where the number of votes reportedly exceeded the number of registered voters on the NRM register.
Kisoro Deputy RDC Robert Tukamuhebwa confirmed that an official complaint had been filed regarding alleged irregularities in Karumena Village, backed by credible evidence.
He added that additional complaints would be accepted before Saturday, provided they were substantiated with proof, as the area is scheduled for a repeat vote.
Notably, candidates Mbonigaba John and Alex Nambajimana, who also serves as the district NRM Vice Chairperson, declined to comment.
Both reportedly left the district headquarters shortly after the meeting, allegedly heading to mobilize supporters ahead of the Karumena re-vote.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that John King was escorted by supporters as he proceeded to canvass for votes in the area.
The Kisoro mayoral race remains one of the most fiercely contested in recent memory, with the outcome of the Karumena re-vote expected to significantly influence the final result.
