Fort Portal municipality seat in Kabarole district has attracted five contenders in the forthcoming general elections.

They include the incumbent Alex Ruhunda on the National Resistance Movement ticket, Stephen Kaliba independent, Daka Joseph on the Forum for Democratic Change ticket, David Rwamuhumbu and Dr Richard Mugahi, both independents.

Alex Ruhunda who is seeking a second term of office has promised to lobby for the elevation of Fort Portal municipality to a city status.

More candidates were nominated for various parliamentary seats in Kanungu.

Those nominated include James Kaberuka Ruugi who was nominated for Kinkiizi West constituency as an NRM flag bearer which was formerly a turf for former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi. Kaberuka will face it off with James Kamwesiga a former Personal Assistant to Amama Mbabazi who openly said that he was being nominated on the Go Forward ticket.

Speaking shortly after nomination Kaberuka said that he is a home bred politician who started as a youth leader before he represented his Parish in Kihiihi Town council and later became a a district Councillor in Kanungu District Local Government where he is still serving as Chairman for Finance Committee.

“I am an ambassador for service delivery in Kinkiizi West and as a person who was born and bred in the area i know the challenges the people are facing and will ensure that all people are served without discrimination,” Kaberuka said.

On the other hand Kamwesiga said that he has a vast experience in serving the people having worked for many years as a Personal Assistant to Amama Mbabazi. “I know the working of the government and i will work for continuity from where my mentor Amama Mbabazi left,”
He said.

Two other independent candidates wre also nominated to contest for Kinkiizi West and they include Jacqueline Kyatuheire and Gad Rugaju Ahimbisiibwe who lost in the NRM primaries and Ivan Rwakabogo who is a UPC leaning candidate but opted to get nominated as an independent.

Kyatuheire was earlier announced as an NRM flag bearer for Kinkiizi West but was later nullified after Internal Security Organization presented a report indicating that she was not the rightful winner and in her place James Kaberuka was announced.

Others who were nominated include Frank Twinomugabe who is an FDC flag bearer for Kinkizi West who is contesting for the first time. “The people of Kinkiizi have been getting lip service from the past MPs and I have come to offer real change that will see the constituency becoming a model for development in Uganda because it is endowed with rich natural resources,” Twinomugabe said.

On the women seat 3 candidates who include Ruth Karungi Tukahirwa who lost in the NRM primaries was nominated to contest as an independent and Charity Mbabazi another looser was also nominated.

Karungi said that she was the genuine winner of the NRM primaries but was surprised when week after the announcement she was nullified and her namesake Elizabeth Karungi who was nominated as a flag bearer yesterday was announced.

“I know well that I am going to defeat all those contesting against me because the past election have already shown how popular i am,”
Karungi said after nomination.

In Kinkiizi East Fulgence Muhumuza who was a runners up in the NRM primaries returned to be nominated as an independent candidate to tussle it out again with Minister Baryomunsi.

Kanungu district electoral commission returning officer Ferdinand Tumwesigye said that all the people who had booked to be nominated had returned the forms for nomination and the exercise was calm.

Evelyn Anite, the youth state minister is eyeing an easy win in the Koboko municipality parliamentary race despite several contestants competing with her.

“I love to compete, I like challenges but from the look of things, these ones are just escorting me,” a jolly Anite said shortly after her nomination on Thursday.

Anite said Koboko is an NRM territory which explains why the district chairman Saidi Hassan Nyinya, the municipal Mayor Wilson Sanya and 80% of the councilors to the municipal council sailed unopposed on the NRM ticket.

The Koboko district woman MP Margaret Babadiri has also gone through unopposed under the ruling party’s flag.

“Let them come and learn how to eat with elders, may be that will be an opportunity for us to woo them into NRM,” she said of her opponents that include Charles Yakani of FDC, and independent candidates Ronald Bayiga and John Bosco Alege.

However, Yakani warned Anite not to expect an easy ride saying he is determined to make history by becoming the first MP for Koboko municipality.

Meanwhile, the controversy that shrouded the National Resistance Movement primary elections for the Koboko north constituency has been cleared after the NRM decided to stick with Elly Asiku who was initially declared winner by the district registrar before Nusura Tiperu claimed victory in the same polls.

On Thursday, the NRM sponsored the nomination of Asiku who was declared duly nominated by the Koboko district returning officer Joel Feta at 10:50am. The development prompted Tiperu to go as an independent candidate.

Speaking to journalists after his nomination, Asiku said “I knew it was going to come to this conclusion, I am now waiting to see if somebody is going to contest with me and we shall tussle,” he said.

True to his prediction, Tiperu arrived for nomination just as Asiku exited the gate of the perimeter fence of Koboko district headquarters where the exercise was taking place.

“I come from a background where I went through violent primary elections. The NRM electoral commission failed to declare me as the winner and we knew that their verdict would not be what the people want,” Tiperu said.

She said she would appeal to her supporters to ensure peaceful polls following a warning from the returning officer that the candidates must follow the electoral law strictly or face nullification of their candidature.

Tiperu asserted that she would be the best person to champion the aspirations of her people by acting as a link between them and the government but Asiku contents that the biggest problem of Koboko north is poverty and that he will spearhead the promotion of operation wealth creation.

Both candidates vowed to vigorously canvass for votes for president Museveni with Tiperu saying much as she has gone independent, Museveni is still the best person to lead Uganda.

In Koboko County, Internal affairs state minister James Baba is being challenged by Democratic partys David Dronyi for the parliamentary seat. – See more at: https://www.elections.co.ug/new-vision/election/1413445/nominations-catch-happened#sthash.Qpz3xnaq.dpuf

John Kennedy Wasike: Local radio presenter with one of the Local FM in Mbale will be nominated as an independent candidate at  9:00am at Mbale municipal council as MP candidate for Mbale municipality

Pamela Kamugo Nasio will be nominated for Waman MP Budaka district at 2:00pm at district headquarters in Budaka district, She is social worker working with Salem brotherhood in Mbale district

Justine Khainza Woman MP for Bududa district to be nominated tomorrow at mid-day at the district headquarters in Bududa.

Kevin Nabutuwa for Woman MP Bududa district to nominated today at the district headquarters, she works with Uganda Red Cross Society.

Beatrice Okuri for Woman MP Mbale district.

Ibrahim Kasozi has been nominated for Makindye East as an independent candidate

Aidah Nakuya has been nominated for Kampala Woman MP as an independent candidate

Mohammed Nsereko has been nominated for Kampala Central as an independent candidate

Ian Clarke Makindye Division chairman nominated for Makindye East. He will tussle it out for the seat with John SSimbwa

Clarke says: I have delivered all I wanted to do for Makindye as division mayor. Now is the time for me to go to Parliament.

Actor Kato Lubwama nominated for Rubaga South. He will compete for the seat with CP president Ken Lukyamuzi

Attorney General Freddie Ruhindi nominated for Nakawa Division Kampala

Amuria district chairperson John Francis Oluma has withdrawn his candidature from the race.

Oluma, the incumbent, had first opted to compete for Member of Parliament for the newly-created Orungo County, but lost to Gen. Jeje Odongo, the state minister for defence in the NRM primaries.

Oluma then changed his mind and retuned to vie for the district chairperson seat as an independent candidate and was dully nominated.

“Your excellency, I want to bring to your attention that one of our own in the NRM party, the incumbent district chairperson for Amuria, who lost in NRM party primaries for MP seat and bounced to contest as an independent for district chairperson, has withdrawn his candidature,” said Capt. Mike Mukula, the Eastern region national vice-chairperson for NRM.

Mukula added: “Your Excellency, please consider these kind of NRM party cardres for appointments such as resident district commissioners among others because they are dedicated and devoted to the party ideology than personal interest.”

Mukula was speaking yesterday at Kapelebyong Primary School during the presidential rally, which commenced yesterday in Teso sub-region in Katakwi and Amuria districts.
Oluma on his side confirmed to New vision that he has opted out of the race so long as the party meets his terms and conditions.

“What I know is that the party is bigger than a person and being in politics is not the end of the world. I am still a young man who has more chances,” Oluma said.

He noted that working with government is better in any other capacity so long as I serve the people and the country.

However, he added that he was duly nominated and he has spent some money, which money he wants the party to refund.

Four candidates have been successfully nominated in Nebbi on Wednesday, to compete in their constituency for post of Member of Parliament in the district.

The four nominated include Allan Kajik, nominated as NRM, candidate for Padyere County, in Nebbi district. Fred Jachan Omach nominated as NRM for Jonam County, in Nebbi district. Emmanuel Ongeirtho, was nominated as the FDC candidate for Jonam County, in Nebbi district.

Aol Jacqueline Rama was nominated as NRM candidate for Nebbi district Woman Member of Parliament. Raymond Kisarale, the Nebbi district returning officer, declared the four duly nominated candidates at different time interval, amidst pomp and excitement among the supporters. More candidates are expected to be nominated by the end of the business day.