TWO INDEPENDENTS WITHDRAW FROM RUKUNGIRI BY ELECTION A WEEK AHEAD OF POLLS

By Barak Tukashaba
www.mknewslink.com
In Rukungiri
As Rukungiri Woman Member of Parliament by-election draws nearer with only a week to polls, two candidates Sheila Atukunda Kirebete, and Elizabeth Rwakitonera both independents have pulled out of the race.

Ms Elizabeth Rwakitonera announced her decision to step down on Tuesday in favor of NRM candidate Winnie Masiko.

Ms Elizabeth Rwakitonera said that her decision to pull out came after she had met former Security Minister Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde who convinced her to step down and combine their support for NRM. She added that she is coming back in 2021and requested her supporters to vote Winnie on NRM ticket.

Other sources have it that another independent candidate Sheila Kirebete has also decided to step down also in favor of Winnie Masiko the NRM candidate after meeting Gen. Jim Muhwezi. Her phones could not be reached by the time of this publication.

Mr.Umar Kiyimba, the Rukungiri returning officer confirmed that he has received written documents from the two informing him of their withdrawal from the race.

The former Security minister, Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde who is in Rukungiri carryingout mobilization for the party candidate noted that there is divisionism in the NRM because four of the six candidates in the race subscribe to be members of NRM though the three stood as independent. He said that this will cost NRM its victory if they do not reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, Betty Bamukwasa Muzanira, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate in the Rukungiri District Woman MP race has petitioned the Inspector General of Government and the Electoral Commission Chairperson over what she calls illegal involvement by civil servants in partisan campaigns in the by-election.
Muzanira through her lawyers of Rwakafuuzi and Company Advocates wrote to the IGG Irene Mulyagonja, to report a number of civil servants including soldiers, who she said are campaigning for the NRM candidate Winfred Matsiko.
Among these she cited Dr. Johnson Byabashaija the Commissioner General of Uganda Prisons who she says has been campaigning in Nyakishenyi Sub County for the NRM candidate.

Source: www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
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