Kisoro By-Election: Seven Defy Museveni Orders to Stand Down

In a meeting with NRM Chairman President Museveni, five candidates accepted to stand down with sources saying a compensation of Shs30 million per aspirant was on the table

STATE HOUSE | At least five aspirants have withdrawn from the Kisoro District Woman MP by-election race after a meeting with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairman.

President Museveni last week summoned the 13 women vying for his party's flag to a meeting at the State House in Entebbe.

The Nile Post understands Mr Museveni told the aspirants in the NRM primary to stand down for Ms Grace Akifeza.

"Fancy Nirere refused the directive and six others also told the NRM chairman they would go all the way," a source said.

"The price was Shs30 million for each aspirant stepping down."

After the meeting with the President, the aspirants were sent to Plot 1o on Kyadondo Road in Kampala to further iron out the issues with the party secretariat.

Following the two meetings, the NRM Electoral Commission on Monday, October 14, announced that Sylvia Dushime, Louise Niyikiza, Allen Nkurikiye, Aphia Nyiramahoro, and Eva Twizera had stood down.

Mr Tanga Odoi, the NRM electoral commission chairman, said Ms Akifeza is now being challenged by Hellen Mbonye, Winfred Igiraneza, Jemimah Irakunda, Rose Kabagyeni, Blessed Kitentera, and Irene Mahirwe.

However, Mr Odoi insisted there was no financial compensation provided to the aspirants who had stepped down.

“There has been no compensation for the aspirants who left the race," Odoi said.

"As of now, we have eight candidates in the Kisoro race, and five have withdrawn, which I can confirm. The roadmap remains the same, and voting for the party primaries will take place on October 25 as planned.”

Uganda's national politics is hugely commercialised. Political aspirants spend millions in electioneering.

In many cases, those asked to step down for others to reduce competition or forwhatever reason the party might decide are cpompensated financially or with promises of appointments to cover the investment already made.

Ultimately, some individuals join the race hoping for such, which is often a windfall, either from the party of fellow competitors buying them out of the race.

However, in the past, many have defied the party's directive and gone ahead to trounce the preferred candidates in the polls.

Ms Sylvia Dushime, one of the candidates who withdrew, explained that her decision was influenced by advice from the President during their meeting.

She added that the limited campaign time also played a role in her decision, though she denied receiving any compensation from the party.

"I wasn’t forced or compensated by the party or the chairman. It was a personal decision because I love the party and the people of Kisoro," Ms Dushime said.

She added that she would speak to her supporters to explain her withdrawal.

Aspirants who chose to remain in the race, such as Nirere and Kitentera, said that the meeting with the President was intended to explore the possibility of selecting a single candidate to represent the party, in an effort to avoid divisive campaigns in Kisoro.

However, they noted that the idea of consensus was not possible, and each candidate decided to continue with their campaign.

“Our meeting with the President aimed to see if we could choose one candidate among ourselves to prevent chaos in Kisoro during the campaigns,” the aspirants said.

They also noted that President Museveni advised them on ways to reduce campaign costs while maintaining focus on the issues that matter to the people.

Ms Jemimah Irakunda, another remaining candidate, expressed her motivation to challenge the perception that the NRM is a party only for the older generation.

"I want to prove that NRM is for all generations. Young people have a place here, and I am determined to show that through my candidacy," she said.

The Kisoro District Woman MP seat became vacant following the death last month of Sarah Mateke, who was also the State Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs.