By BM
State Minister for Housing, Princess Persis Namuganza, has threatened to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming general elections if the National Resistance Movement (NRM) fails to address her petition challenging the recent disputed party primaries in Namutumba District.
The Minister, who contested for the Bukono County NRM flag, claims she won the primary election but was unfairly edged out in favor of Emmanuel Maganda.
New posters showing Namuganza as an independent candidate have reportedly already been seen in various urban centers of Namutumba, signaling her readiness to break from the ruling party if justice is not served.
Appearing before the NRM Disputes Tribunal at Kyadondo today, Namuganza accused senior NRM electoral officials including NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi, of orchestrating a fraudulent process.
She further claimed that AIGP Moses Kafeero, who oversaw security in Busoga during the primaries, canceled elections in the area on orders from Dr. Tanga Odoi.
However, the following day, she says, the party declared winners despite no proper vote tallying.
Maganda, who was also summoned by the tribunal, declined to address the media, citing urgency to attend another appointment.
Namuganza also raised concerns over the Woman MP race in Namutumba District, accusing the party of imposing incumbent Mariam Naigaga over her challenger Betty Nakisita, who she claims was the rightful winner.
Nakisita, in her petition, alleged vote falsification by Naigaga. She said that after tallying results from all 19 parishes, she had 68,000 votes, while Naigaga had 52,000.
However, to her surprise, the official declaration showed Naigaga with 74,000 votes and Nakisita with 64,000, figures which Nakisita says exceeded the number of voters on the NRM register. “Even if Naigaga had the upper hand, she couldn’t have had an extra 10,000 votes beyond the register,” she stated.
In response, Naigaga accused Nakisita of manipulating figures, citing instances where Nakisita allegedly presented results from 17 villages that exceeded the registered number of voters. “In one village, she claimed 989 votes when only 445 voters are registered,” Naigaga said.
Meanwhile, in the Busiki Constituency, returning officer Richard Mwanja initially declared Paul Akamba as the winner, a result Namuganza also challenges.
The tribunal also heard that votes from Kibale Parish were not counted, with a petition filed by returning officer Rogers Mwanje and Mariam Naigaga seeking its cancellation. Only 19 out of the 20 parishes were tallied in the Woman MP race. Namuganza warned that she will not hesitate to go independent if NRM does not resolve the petitions justly. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
