Rushenyi County Member of Parliament Naome Kabasharira has assured residents that the upcoming elections will be peaceful, despite the history of political tensions in the constituency.
Addressing locals and local leaders in Rubaare over the weekend, Kabasharira emphasized the need for orderly campaigns and elections.
“Whoever wants to contest against me is free as long as we have a peaceful election, and I think we will have peaceful campaigns and subsequent elections,” Kabasharira said.
Kabasharira, who had initially retired from active politics, was persuaded by residents to return and challenge then-incumbent Mwesigwa Rukutana, the former Deputy Attorney General, in the 2021 elections.
Their contest led to violent clashes in the constituency. She now urges all contenders to commit to a peaceful process.
“I call upon the electorate and those planning to stand against me to ensure we have good and smooth campaigns. I promise that this time, we will have calm elections,” she said.
Justus Karuhanga, a former aspirant for the Rushenyi County MP seat who now backs Kabasharira, described her leadership as a turning point for the constituency’s political landscape.
“We promised the community to return towards the end of this term (2021–2026) to assess Kabasharira’s performance. The people have now endorsed her for the next term (2026–2031),” Karuhanga said.
He added that Rushenyi’s new approach to politics—where MPs are held accountable before seeking re-election—will ensure better governance and reduce electoral chaos.
“This new standard will continue for every MP who comes up. It is not about a predetermined choice but about accountability. If the MP has delivered, then they should be supported. This will solve the chaos we have witnessed in the past,” Karuhanga said.
Kabasharira urged voters to demand accountability from their leaders throughout their term rather than waiting for election periods. She credited quarterly engagement meetings with residents for helping her serve more effectively.
“I engage with the people of Rushenyi because I can’t work alone. I have had to meet local leaders and residents every quarter to give them progress reports on service delivery,” she said.
The 2021 elections in Rushenyi were marred by violence, including an incident on 6th September 2020, when Rukutana was accused of shooting two people during the NRM primaries.
He was arrested alongside three bodyguards in Ntungamo District but was later acquitted after the accusations were found to be false.
Kabasharira now hopes that by prioritizing accountability and civic engagement, Rushenyi can move past its history of electoral violence and embrace a more democratic process.
