Two Ministers in Tooro have been defeated in the NRM Party Primaries. Peace Reigiz Muttuzo, the State Minister for Culture, lost to Sarah Kabarokole. Kabarokole garnered 31,850 votes while Mutuzo garnered 20,099 votes.
For the Kabarole District Woman MP seat, the incumbent and State Minister for local government, Victoria Rusoke, lost to Pamela Kirungi, who garnered 14224 votes against Rusoke’s 11,610.
Kabarole LCV Chairperson, Richard Rwabuhinga, who contested for the Burhaya County seat, lost to new entrant Joseph Mugenyi. Rwabuhinga got 14,345 votes while Mugenyi got 23,176. Media practitioner Charles Mwahasuya Mpagai got 6,470 votes.
In Fort Portal City, the incumbent Linda Irene retained the party flag after defeating former Kabarole Woman MP Sylvia Rwabwogo with 9,160 votes, gaining 16,232 votes. Former NBS journalist Victora Bagaya garnered 3,662 votes.
In Fort Portal Central, the incumbent Alex Ruhunda was declared winner with 4,796 defeating his closest rival, Ronald Muhenda, who garnered 3,309 votes.
Margret Mugisa Muhanga was declared the NRM flag bearer for the Fort Portal North Division member of parliament. Muhanga secured 7,909 votes, followed by Ruhundwa Solmon with 3,985 votes, and Mugisa Vincent with 242 votes.
In Bunyagabu County, the incumbent Denis Kamukama was defeated by Victor Kalenzi, the Director of Fins University Fort Portal.
In Kasese, Dr. Crispus Walter Kiyonga won in Bukonzo West. Kiyonga polled 19,965 votes to defeat the junior minister in the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Geoffrey Kabyanga, who managed to get 10,218 votes.
The highly contested polls were characterised by a heavy police and military presence. Kiyonga is the current Chancellor of Makerere University.
Before this appointment, Kiyonga served as Uganda’s Ambassador to China, based in Beijing. Kiyonga served as the Minister of Defence in the Cabinet of Uganda from 2006 to 2016 and held the position of Minister Without Portfolio in the Office of the President from 2005 to 2006. Throughout his cabinet tenure, he retained his post during several reshuffles. He served as a member of parliament for his constituency for several decades.
On his return from Beijing, Kiyongo opted to return to politics but was defeated by FDC’s Atkins Katusabe in 2016.
In May, he lost the Kasese District NRM chairperson bid to former political and ambassador to DR. Congo James Mbahimba.
Kiyonga went on to announce his bid for the Bukonzo West MP seat.
Meanwhile, Gedion Mujungu Thembo has lost the NRM party flag for Busongora South Constituency, in Kasese district, to Mulindwa David Isimbwa.
According to results announced by the Kasesese District NRM returning officer, Mbusa Amon Isimbwa narrowly defeated Mujungu with 11,816 votes to 11,563 votes.
In 2021, Mujungu spent nearly his first year defending his victory for the same seat after the then-independent candidate Jackson Mbaju challenged his victory in court.
In Kasese municipality, the incumbent Ferigo Kambale had to beat a tight competition from Francis Kithula to retain the party flag. Ferigo polled 7,561 to against Kithula’s 6,247.
In Ntoroko District, Jennifer Mujungu bounced back after defeating the incumbent Karungi Monica with 13,000 votes.
In Bundibugyo, the former state minister for agriculture, Christopher Kibanzanga, again lost his bid for the Bughendara County MP NRM party flag.
Kibanzanga lost the Bughendera parliamentary election in January 2021 to incumbent Acrobert Moses Kiiza.
The Bundibugyo District NRM electoral returning officer, Kisembo Joseph, declared Kiiza the winner of the party primaries after polling 22,271 votes against Kibanzanga’s 22,191 votes.
In Bwamba County, former State Minister of Trade, Harriet Ntabazi, defeated the incumbent, Richard Gafabusa Muhumuza, with 33,873 votes.
Ntabazi’s win could be a sign of relief after she was dropped from her ministerial position in 2024, less than a year after her appointment, over her academic qualifications.