Re-tallying puts Rukutana ahead but chaos ensues over results read from area where voting did not happen

A re-tallying process to ascertain the legitimate winner of the Rushyenyi County MP primary race between Naomi Kabasharira and Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana ended prematurely after chaos ensued resulting from declaring results of an area where voting allegedly did not happen.

Initially, Kabasharira had ben announced victor of the hotly contested race before Rukutana petitioned for a review of the results.

In the same light, the NRM Electoral Commission head by Tanga Odoi called the two parties for a re-tallying process cell by cell.

Using available Declaration Results (DR) forms, Odoi reconciled results from either part,y and where results were altered in some cells, it was immediately resolved.

For instance, in Rabasheji cell, Rukutana had been given 56 votes yet the DR forms indicated 26 votes, a difference of 30 votes.

The process was all sailing smooth when Rukutana’s camp produced DR forms for Nyakahita cell, which other camps claim did not participate in voting. The situation turned chaotic.

“Fighting took place in Nyakahita and there was no voting but they want to include results from there. We from the Kabasharira team don’t have the DR forms, NRM EC doesn’t have them either, but Rukutana’s team have the forms interestingly. Let us do away with it until they investigate whether voting took place or not,” a member of Kabasharira camp claimed.

According to Kabasharira, about six cells in Ruyonza, there are instances where there were more voters than the actual number of people logically expected in the cell.

“In a cell which could have 280, they voted 620 people,” she said.

Arnold Mugisha, a representative of Mwesigwa Rukutana said the process was fruitful and the two camps objected together except on this particular cell where the other camp claims voting did not happen.

“We only had one controversy where they allege voting did not take place and we insist it happened, but I think it is a fair process,” Mugisha said.

Meanwhile, Rukutana was in early 20 vote lead by the time Tanga Odoi suspended the re-tallying pending further investigation.

“I am giving my self two days to investigate the problem and I will declare the winner on notice. I will not call you here but I will use the radio and you will get the winner. For now, the leading candidate remains Rukutana,” Tanga announced.