NICHOLAS A
Residents of Kihengamo cell in Bugyera Parish, Buyanja Sub-county, Rukungiri District, have publicly apologised to the Rukungiri District Woman Member of Parliament (WMP) NRM flag bearer, Hon. Turyahikayo Mary Paula Kebirungi, after previously attempting to support rival candidates. The residents have since withdrawn their support from other contestants and endorsed Hon. Mary Paula ahead of the forthcoming General Elections, describing her return as a “liberation for development.”
The development comes as Hon. Mary Paula continues her mobilisation campaign to reclaim the Rukungiri District Woman MP seat. On Thursday, she was accompanied by the Rukungiri District LC5 NRM flag bearer, Andrewson Katebire Charles, as they addressed rallies in Rubanga and Bugyera parishes in Buyanja Sub-county, where they received overwhelming support from hundreds of voters.
Speaking during Hon. Mary Paula’s rally at Kihengamo Catholic Church in Kitojo Parish, the Kihengamo Cell LC1 Chairperson, Mr. Clenerio Bakachwa, publicly apologised for earlier attempts to abandon her camp in favour of a rival candidate. Mr. Bakachwa said that after reflecting on the services Hon. Mary Paula delivered during her previous term in Parliament, he realised his mistake and decided to immediately withdraw from the rival camp and re-endorse her candidature.
Other residents, led by Ninyesiga Pastori, Onesma Katundu, Mr. Alex Namanya, Kebirungi Johnson, and Mr. Musasizi Richard, also apologised to Hon. Mary Paula and announced their withdrawal from other contestants’ camps. They cited dissatisfaction with poor service delivery in the area over the past five years as the reason for their decision.
The residents praised Hon. Mary Paula for the visible development projects she implemented in and beyond Rubabo County, even during her five-year absence from Parliament. They endorsed her candidature and appealed to her to continue lobbying for electricity extension to their area.
In Rubanga Parish and Rugarama Cell, residents commended Hon. Mary Paula for her efforts in lobbying for electricity connectivity. They further appealed to her to promote Enterprise Uganda workshops, support women groups and associations, and extend electricity and improve road infrastructure in areas that are still underserved.
In her remarks, Hon. Turyahikayo Mary Paula Kebirungi thanked the residents for the love and support they have continued to show her, including during the NRM primaries. She acknowledged the many challenges and gaps in service delivery across the district and pledged to continue from where she stopped in providing essential services. Hon. Mary Paula also called for unity, collaboration, and support from youths, middle-aged, and elderly voters across all political divides as she seeks a fresh mandate in the forthcoming General Elections.
