At least 21 parliamentary candidates were nominated in Ntungamo District on the first day of the two-day nomination exercise, with many pledging to prioritize education, health services, roads, and livelihoods if elected.
Since morning, the Electoral Commission offices in Ntungamo have been busy with aspirants verifying their documents and awaiting nomination.
By 10:30am, the first candidate, Beatrice Rwakimari, the NRM flag bearer for Ruhaama County, had been cleared, followed by several others across the district’s constituencies.
In Ruhaama County, those nominated included Henry Zinkuratire (Independent), Muchurezi Humble Gerald (ANT), Barungi Richard (Independent), and Eugenia Kakajara.
For Ruhaama East County, the NRM flag bearer Kahima Moses Mugabe was nominated.
In Rushenyi County, Naome Kabasharira (NRM) and Nyongozi Herbert (Independent) were successfully nominated, while in Kajara County, James Hunter Bwenjeru (NRM) and Ahabwe Venansious (PFF) were cleared to contest.
For Ntungamo Municipality, candidates nominated include Beyendeza Edward (Independent), Gerald Karuhanga Kafureeka (Independent), Yona Musinguzi (NRM), and Rubahamya Magambo (NUP).
In the Woman MP race for Ntungamo District, Juliet Kindyahamutima (Independent) and Viola Buroko Namanya (NRM) were among those nominated.
Many of the candidates highlighted similar campaign priorities—improving access to electricity, clean water, education, health services, and better roads to enhance livelihoods across the district.
Several former NRM aspirants who lost in the party primaries have returned to the race as independents, underscoring the intense political competition in Ntungamo.
Naome Kabasharira, the NRM flag bearer for Rushenyi County, said her focus remains on health services. “I found when Rushenyi was lacking a lot, and now we are concentrating on health. When you have good health and you are strong, you can do other things,” she said.
James Hunter Bwenjeru, the NRM flag bearer for Kajara County, emphasized infrastructure and income growth.
“We want to do good roads in Kajara. We also want to promote our people to be integrated in the money economy. We need to increase household income and help our people not to be needy. As a country, we are reaching middle-income status, and Kajara must not be left behind,” he said.
Independent candidate Gerald Karuhanga Kafureeka, contesting for Ntungamo Municipality, said his decision to run was based on consultations with residents.
“They reached out to me to run as independent for purposes of uniting and appreciating the dynamics and complexities of our place—to move this place beyond the current and previous chaos,” he said.
Following the tension that marred recent NRM primaries, several candidates called for peaceful campaigns and restraint among supporters.
Yona Musinguzi, the NRM flag bearer for Ntungamo Municipality, urged unity.
“When you use violence to solve violence, we shall find the world in a spiral of violence. Let’s look at each other as brothers. In our campaigns, let’s minimize violence,” he said.
NUP candidate Rubahamya Magambo rallied supporters to remain optimistic, saying, “We are the real change. We are the real deal; we are coming to you strong. We need change. It’s been long. This is the real change—NUP is the revolution.”
The nomination exercise is expected to conclude on October 24, with more candidates anticipated to submit their papers for various positions in Ntungamo District.
