STAFF REPORTER
Campaigns for the Kisoro Woman Member of Parliament by-election have officially started, with independent candidate Grace Ngabirano Akifeza announcing her plan to deploy independent election observers to monitor the polling process next week. This decision follows claims of alleged vote manipulation during the recent NRM primaries.
In those primaries, Rose Kabagyeni, Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture, emerged as the NRM flag bearer with 39,941 votes, narrowly edging out Akifeza, who garnered 39,197 votes. However, Akifeza has accused the NRM Electoral Commission of altering vote counts in favor of Kabagyeni.
Ephraim Kaziimba, the LC1 Chairman of Kikobero Cell in Nkuringo Town Council, supported Akifeza’s allegations, noting that votes at the Kikobero polling station were reportedly inflated for Kabagyeni. He claims the NRM Electoral Commission recorded 663 votes for Kabagyeni, though only 163 were originally counted.
Speaking to her supporters at her initial campaign rally in Nkuringo Town Council, Akifeza expressed her dissatisfaction with the primary election results, which prompted her to run as an independent in the upcoming by-election. She also alleged that her agents experienced intimidation at various polling stations, were denied access to declaration forms, and that the NRM Electoral Commission released manipulated results.
Akifeza urged her supporters to remain steadfast, united, and vigilant to ensure their votes are protected.
