JOGO KENNETH PETITIONS NRM EC OVER UNFAIR RUBANDA EAST PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

By Grant Ahumuza

www.mknewslink.com

In Rubanda

Jogo Kenneth Biryabarema who lost to Rubanda east incumbent Member of Parliament, hon. Aringanyira Henry Musasizi, in the NRM party primaries has petitioned the party’s national chairperson seeking nullification of the elections.

The Aspirant Rubanda East Member of Parliament Jogo Kenneth Biryabarema has petitioned the Head office of the National Resistance Movement demanding for the recount of the recently concluded party primary elections.

Biryabarema through his lawyers of M/S Bikangiso and Company Advocates presented the petition to the Rubanda district NRM party Registrar Aggrey Monday at the district party offices in Rubanda town council.

According to the results that were announced by an official from national NRM Electoral Commission Gaudioza Kabondo and the Rubanda district NRM party Registrar Aggrey Monday, Musasizi was declared as the winner with 23,330 votes, defeating Biryabarema who garnered 22,412 votes.

Now, in the petition letter, Biryabarema said that his rival Musasizi being the district NRM Chairperson used his powers as the organizer of the elections at the district level to influence the polling officers which affected the whole process.

Biryabarema added that some results were brought at night around 8:00pm to the tally center by the competitor and wondered where these results were being kept from the time of voting to the time the respondent brought them.

Biryabarema said that the election was characterized by voter-bribery and the votes that the officials declared were not tallying with those on the declaration forms. Biryabarema claimed that he had garnered 23153 votes which represent 51% against Musasizi’s 22968 votes which represents 49%.

He therefore requests that the declaration done by the district registrar be declared null and void and the party holds the alternative recount by an independent body to have the rightful winner in the election.

However, the Rubanda district NRM party Registrar Aggrey Monday said that Biryabarema’s concerns are baseless because he declared the right winner basing on the results he received from all polling stations in the constituency.

He said nevertheless the petition will be submitted to the National NRM Secretariat for the response.