Independent candidate, Mrs Grace Ngabirano Akifeza, has been declared the winner of the Kisoro District Women Member of Parliament by-election, garnering 50,459 votes. Her closest rival, Rose Kabagenyi of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), received 44,982 votes, followed by Sultana Salim of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who received 903 votes.

Other candidates included Mable Ingabire of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), who received 362 votes, Juliet Musanase of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), who received 193 votes, and Aisha Cyimpaye of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), who received 157 votes.

“Accordingly, declare Akifeza Grace Ngabirano, who received the most votes, as the Returning Officer for Kisoro Constituency and in accordance with Section 72 of the Parliamentary Electoral Act (Cap) 177.” Nr Daniel Nayebare made the announcement early on Friday morning.

The Kisoro District Women’s Member of Parliament seat became vacant on September 7, 2024, following the death of Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, who also served as the Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

His father, NRM member and former minister Dr. Philemon Mateke supported Ms Akifeza.

While analyzing Kisoro’s political landscape during the Women’s Parliament by-election, the district chairman, Mr. Abel Bizimana, had earlier told this publication that NRM supporters were sharply divided along religious lines.

“In support of candidates based on religious affiliation and as a vote of sympathy for the dead girl, Dr. Supporting the election of Philemon Mateke greatly shaped the Kisoro District Women Member of Parliament by-election. Bizimana said these two issues must be properly addressed for the NRM party to retain its political power in Kisoro District after this by-election.

Ms Ngabirano is an NRM member who lost the party primaries.
Although the race initially included 13 candidates vying for the NRM party flag, eight of them withdrew after meeting NRM party leaders in Kampala. Miss Rose Kabagyeni was declared the winner of the NRM party primaries held on 25 October.

While she received 39,941 votes and represented 47.7 percent, her closest rival, Ms. Ngabirano, received 39,197 votes and represented 46.8 percent. Kabagyeni won by a narrow margin of 744 votes, indicating that the election will be competitive.

Other candidates in the NRM party primaries included Irene Mahirwe, who came third with 1,729 votes (2.1 per cent), followed by Nirere Fancy Brenda with 1,593 votes (1.9 per cent). The remaining candidates were Winfred Faith Igiraneza (510), Jemimah Irankunda (363), Blessed Kitentera (248) and Hellen Mbonye, ​​who received 111 votes.

Although Kisoro is a stronghold of the NRM party, malpractices that marred the party’s primaries have led to significant divisions that could affect voter support.