The National Resistance Movement (NRM) ruling party faces the potential loss of its seat for the Kisoro District Woman MP due to a conflict between district chairperson Phelemon Mateke and the newly elected flagbearer, Rose Kabagyegyi.
This dispute arises just weeks before the byelections and follows the party’s primaries, which Mateke alleges were tainted by rigging, leading to Kabagyegyi’s endorsement by the Kampala NRM leadership. Polls are scheduled for November 14.
Kabagyegyi secured her position by defeating her nearest rival, Grace Akifeza Ngabirano, in a contest that featured six candidates.
However, Akifeza also refused to accept her defeat and is now running as an independent candidate, supported by Mateke and a faction of NRM members in the district.
They also raised concerns about various irregularities in the voting process, including the involvement of refugees, primary school students, and hospitalized patients.
According to the results Grace Akifeza Ngabirano got 39,197 votes followed by Rose Kabagyeni with 39,941 votes.
Driving personal interests
Kabagyenyi, in a statement issued on November 5, 2024, alleges that Mateke is prioritizing personal interests instead of addressing legitimate concerns regarding the results of the primary election. “Recent media reports have highlighted remarks by Hon. Philemon Mateke, NRM Chairman for Kisoro District Suggesting that the district has no official NRM flag bearer for the upcoming women representative by-election. He questioned the validity of the recent primaries, alleging irregularities and blaming the outcome of the electoral exercise on the NRM party leadership in Kampala,” she noted.
She emphasized that throughout her political career, including her prior term as the Kisoro District Women Representative from 2016 to 2021, she has consistently been without the support of Mateke.
“While everyone is entitled to their opinion, I believe Kisoro District is greater than any individual, including myself or Hon Mateke, and no one faction should claim sole authority over Kisoro or her electorate. The known fact is that people participated in the election and results reflected exactly that,” he added.
She clarified that on the day of the primaries, all eight candidates, herself included, gathered at the district hall to meticulously review the results from each polling station.
Kabagyenyi noted that candidates and their representatives had sufficient opportunity to ask questions or contest the results, with Mateke present, yet he did not voice any objections at that moment.
She expressed her confusion over his decision to come forward a week later to undermine both her victory and the leadership of the NRM in Kampala.
“Our people have moved past the NRM primary election. It is time to focus on uplifting Kisoro to new heights and recognize that the voice of people reflects the voice of God. The recent actions appear to be veiled attempts to advance personal interests rather than genuine concerns over the primary election’s outcome,” he added.
She encouraged the national leadership of NRM and the residents of Kisoro to recognize this and stay dedicated to their common vision for advancement and development.
