NELSON K
The Rukungiri District NRM Woman MP flag bearer, Hon. Mary Paula Turyahikayo, has criticized the delay in organizing reconciliation meetings among Rukungiri NRM leaders and supporters, saying they have come too close to the Electoral Commission nomination period.
Speaking to journalists shortly after a reconciliation meeting held at Riverside Hotel in Rukungiri Municipality, Mary Paula expressed frustration over what she termed as a late effort to unite party members.
She emphasized that reconciliation should have been conducted immediately after the NRM primary elections in July, as was the case in other districts.
“Reconciliation has come very late, yet many of our colleagues who lost in the primaries have already made up their minds and started mobilizing voters,” she said.
Despite the internal tensions, Mary Paula reaffirmed her confidence in defending the NRM flag in the upcoming general elections as the party’s official candidate for Rukungiri Woman MP. She acknowledged that while some party members, including incumbents, have opted to run as independents, the Constitution allows them to do so.
Meanwhile, the Rukungiri District LC5 chairperson and NRM flag bearer Andrewson Katebire also criticized the delayed reconciliation efforts, stressing that such meetings should have been held soon after the July primaries.
He revealed that one of his former opponents, Angello Twinomuhangi, who lost in the primaries, allegedly demanded a large sum of money to withdraw from contesting as an independent — a request he declined.
“I’m confident of defeating my opponents with an even bigger margin. I trust the voters to decide,” he said.
The reconciliation process, which had stalled earlier, resumed on Tuesday at Rukungiri Inn Hotel with a selected committee of representatives seeking to finalize the unification of party members ahead of nominations on 22rd and 23rd October 2025.
