FDC, NUP Leave Empty-Handed as Museveni’s NRM Wins Busongora South Byelection

Leading opposition political parties, the National Unity Platform (NUP) and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), have failed to bag any parliamentary seat in recent byelections after yesterday’s Busongora South poll went to President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). 

Following the close of polling and the tallying exercise,  Kasese Electoral District Returning Officer Ismeail Takih Atwijukire declared the results from the Busongora South byelection.

At about 10:40pm, while at Rukoki Multipurpose Hall, RO Atwijukire declared Gideon Thembo Mujungu as the duly elected candidate for the position of directly elected member of parliament for Busongora South.

The byelection had attracted six candidates: Mujungu of the NRM; Benadet Businge of Norbert Mao’s Democratic Party (DP); independent candidate Doreen Izagiire; Alozious Baguma Kighema of Patrick Oboi Amuriat’s Forum for Democratic Change  (FDC);Jackson Mbaju of main opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) and independent candidate David Isimbwa Mulindwa.

According to results released by Returning Officer Atwijukire Thursday night, the total number of valid votes cast for candidates was 26,727; the total number of rejected or invalid ballot papers was 399; the total number of spoilt ballot papers was 32; while the total number of ballot papers counted was 27,126.

The same results as contained in the return form for transmission of results indicates that Businge of the DP garnered 84 votes; independent candidate Izagiire managed 32 votes; Kighema of FDC 5,564 votes; Mbaju of NUP 6,866 votes; independent candidate Isimbwa 2,093 votes; while Mujungu of NRM got 12,088 votes.

“Accordingly, as Returning Officer for Kasese Electoral District, and in accordance with Section 58(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005 (as Amended), I declare THEMBO Gideon Mujungu who obtained the largest number of votes, to be the elected candidate for Busongora County South Constituency, Kasese Electoral District,” announced RO Atwijukire.

The FDC has decried harassment of its agents and party leaders. “This is not a by-election! it’s a military operation commanded by the UPDF, NRM militia,(LDU) and the partisan police,” said the party in a short statement. 

Party leader Amuriat was expected to address reporters on the election and other matters of national importance on Friday. “Our President Eng. Patrick Oboi Amuriat will address the nation today Friday 19th August 2022 from our offices in Kasese district at 10 am. The president will speak to Ugandans on matters of national importance and yesterday’s ‘by-election’ in Busongora South,” read a short notice from the party. 

Both FDC and NUP, even when they have united, have lost recent byelections, including Soroti City East, Bukimbiri and Gogonyo. (Read Stories Here, There and Over There).