MICHAEL .N
In the elections held on Thursday, 15th January, which included the Presidential, direct election Members of Parliament (MPs), and Woman MPs, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearers secured five key seats in Ntungamo District.
Speaking after being declared winners by Charles Wafula, the Ntungamo Electoral Commission Returning Officer, the victorious candidates expressed gratitude to their supporters for the overwhelming majority votes they received. They pledged to work collaboratively to foster development in their communities and across the district. Key priorities highlighted by the elected leaders include improving healthcare services in government facilities, enhancing education in schools, expanding electricity and piped water access, upgrading roads, and implementing government programs such as PDM and eMyoga.
In Rushenyi County, Hon. Naome Kabasharira retained her seat for a second term, having first won in 2021 by defeating Hon. Mwesigwa Rukutana, who had served for 25 years. Kabasharira received 23,023 votes, narrowly defeating her independent challenger Herbert Nyongozi, who secured 21,819 votes.
Hon. Hunter James Tukahirwa won in Kajara County with 25,129 votes, defeating Hon. Deus Rwabikana, who garnered 17,039 votes. This marks Tukahirwa’s first term, following Hon. Michael Timuzingu Kamugisha’s two-term tenure from 2016 to 2025, during which Kamugisha did not participate in NRM primaries.
In Ruhaama Constituency, Hon. Beatrice Rwakimari emerged victorious over Hon. Henry Zinkuratire, who ran as an independent after losing the NRM primaries.
In Ruhaama East, Moses Kahima Mugabe defeated his NUP opponent Leonard Nuwenshaba with 44,523 votes to 1,610. Kahima previously served as MP for Ruhaama from 2018 to 2021 following the death of the sitting MP.
Ntungamo Municipality, however, saw an upset as independent candidate Hon. Gerald Karuhanga defeated the NRM flag bearer and vice chairperson of NRM in the district, Hon. Yona Musinguzi Nkwasimbwehi, with 3,967 votes to 2,824.
In the Woman MP race, Hon. Namanya Buroko Viola, the NRM candidate, secured a decisive victory with 76.69% of the votes (140,127 votes), defeating independent candidate Mutesi Brenda Akunda, who received 12.96% (23,709 votes).
The results demonstrate the continued dominance of NRM in Ntungamo District while also highlighting pockets of strong independent support, particularly in the municipality.
