Main opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has announced that it has withdrawn its candidate from the byelection in Kisoro District’s Bukimbiri Constituency.
While, NUP’s Joshua Mutabazi had been nominated by the Electoral Commission (EC) on August 02, the party has announced that he has pulled out of the race to support James Owebeyi, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
The move is in the interest of opposition unity efforts, the Kamwokya-based party said.
“However, following our renewed effort to work alongside all forces of change, we have taken a decision to withdraw our candidate from this election. Instead, we shall be supporting and backing the FDC candidate Hon. Owebeyi James,” added NUP in a statement.
“As you all know, the NUP backed the FDC candidate Hon. Attan Moses in the concluded Soroti by-election. Likewise, FDC has recently withdrawn its candidate in the Gogonyo Constituency by-election in Pallisa District and opted to support the NUP candidate Hon. Okoboi Joseph.”
NUP went on to salute Mutabazi for being a mature politician who is interested in opposition unity.
“These steps give promise for greater co-operation in our effort to rid our nation of the military dictatorship,” NUP noted.
“We appreciate comrade Mutabazi Joshua for his maturity and appreciation of the urgent need for the forces of change to work together at this critical time.”
NUP secretary general David Lewis Rubongoya has since written to the Kisoro District Returning Officer Daniel Nayebare, informing him of the decision to withdraw Mutabazi from the election.
“Pursuant to Section 19 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, the National Unity Platform (NUP) hereby withdraws the candidature of Mr Joshua Mutabazi from the Parliamentary By-election race for Bukimbiri County Constituency in Kisoro District,” wrote Rubongoya.
It should be remembered that opposition leaders Dr Kizza Besigye of People’s Front for Transition (PFT Red Card) and Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of NUP issued a joint statement on the state of election integrity in the country.
This was after NUP agreed to support FDC in the Soroti City East byelection, before the FDC also pulled out of the Gogonyo byelection to back the NUP candidate. (Read Story Here).
Meanwhile, Besigye has denied signing any cooperation agreement with Bobi Wine. (Read Story Here).
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