National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Mwine Tumwebaze has been declared the winner of the Western Uganda Youth Member of Parliament seat after securing 1,557 votes.
His closest rival, Barbra Nakandi, came second with 404 votes.
The election took place at Ntare School in Mbarara City, where 2,094 delegates from 38 districts across Uganda were expected to participate in selecting nine candidates.
Despite heavy rains disrupting proceedings, delegates were called district by district and by subcounty to cast their ballots.
Tumwebaze, son of renowned Mbarara businessman Apollo Kirimi, said his focus in Parliament would be on youth empowerment through skills development and policy awareness.
“Many of our young people are not empowered, both in skills and information, to help them navigate life and economic development. My representation will focus on advocating for youth programs that enable young people to acquire skills and information,” Tumwebaze said.
However, the election was marred by allegations of voter bribery. Some candidates claimed that money was being offered to delegates in exchange for votes.
“Money is making the whole process of the Western Youth MP election difficult. Delegates have been promised money and, after voting, are taking pictures as proof of payment,” said Innocent Barigye, a candidate from the Alliance for National Transformation.
Other contestants accused Tumwebaze of spending close to Shs 1 billion to bribe voters, allegations he refuted.
“There is voter bribery in this Western Youth MP election that I have never seen before, a candidate issuing 600,000 shillings to delegates as a bribe,” said Dennis Musinguzi, an independent candidate.
Candidates also raised concerns over the last-minute shift of the venue from Fort Portal to Mbarara City.
“We were supposed to vote from Fort Portal, but the venue was changed just four days prior without notice to candidates,” said Martha Kihumuro Amooti, an independent candidate from Kabarole.
“Delegates were taking pictures as proof to receive the 400,000-shilling bribe from some candidates. Security looked on but appeared to confiscate some phones,” she added.
Julius Tindimwebwa, National Coordinator of the ANT, described the election as “a sham and a waste of taxpayers’ money, facilitating corruption and undermining democratic governance.”
The Returning Officer for the Western Youth MP election confirmed that some phones were confiscated from delegates taking pictures of their ballots, citing concerns over voter privacy.
“We have confiscated phones from delegates taking pictures of their ballot papers, which deprives others’ privacy,” said Atwijukire, the Returning Officer.
