The National Electoral Commission on Tuesday closed a two-day exercise that began Monday with Derrick Orone and Eddie Kwizera Waguhunga duly nominated on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party ticket ahead of the Gogonyo and Bukimbiri by-elections, respectively.
The two parliamentary seats fell vacant following decisions of the Court of Appeal which ordered fresh polls.
Kwizera was declared as duly nominated by Mr. Denis Nayebare, the Kisoro district Returning Officer, at 1pm, becoming the fourth candidate in the race.
He was in the company of NRM’s 1st National Vice Chairman, Rt. Hon. Alhajji Moses Kigongo, Deputy National Treasurer, Hon. Jacqueline Kyatuhaire, Youth and Children Affairs Minister, Hon. Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, and Director for Communication and Public Relations, Hon. Emmanuel Dombo Lumala.
Kwizera expressed gratitude to the ruling party for entrusting him to deliver victory.
He later addressed thousands of supporters that strolled into Rubuguri town council grounds to attend his first nomination mega rally.
The candidate promised a reign that will focus on spearheading the transformation of people’s lives through funding their economic activities to enhance productivity and eradicate poverty.
“I request for support to ensure that the unfinished business of the people of Bukimbiri County is accomplished,” Kwizera said as he cited tourism roads that are yet to be tarmacked by the government.
He beseeched voters to reward a party and a candidate that have a credible track record of service delivery and an embodiment of peace and unity.
In his speech, Alhajj Kigongo said the ruling party led by President Yoweri Museveni is the only option to people’s problems as he dismissed rivals, especially independent candidates, who he described as untrustworthy and ungrateful to the party in government.
The vice chairman reiterated his message of not choosing individual candidates but choosing a party that has better ideas than others.
“The movement since its inception has fronted the priorities of ordinary people. It ushered in decent politics of respect and issue-based campaigns without the sectarian lines that characterized past regimes,” NRM’s second-in-command said.
Hon. Jacqueline Kyatuhaire, the NRM deputy national treasurer, called for peace and calmness among voters, emphasizing that community peace is equally fundamental.
“The by-election will come and go, but Bukimbiri is here to stay. I pray that you respect one another and ensure there is harmony during the entire campaign process and even after elections,” Hon. Kyatuhaire pleaded with electorates.
Gongonyo nomination
As he addressed his energized and psyched-up supporters, Derrick Orone was accompanied by NRM secretariat officials including; Hon. Rosemary Seninde (director mobilization), Hajat Medina Naham (director Finance & Admin), Counsel Oscar Kihika (director Legal), and Mr. Rogers Mulindwa (Senior manager for communication & PR), who promised to come up with incoming generating projects if elected to improve the standards of living of his voters.
“I have a clear-headed program to deal with the unemployment challenge of our youth and the poverty among the men and women in this area,” Derrick Orone said as he campaigned at his nomination rally at Gogonyo sub-county grounds.
Hon. Seninde, who is commanding the NRM brigade in Pallisa for the vote of Mr. Orone, said the ruling party was ready and determined to reclaim victory in the Gogonyo Parliamentary seat.
“I implore every one of us here to join our campaign trail as we traverse all villages to converse support for the ruling party candidate. All of us bear the responsibility of sacrificing for the sake of NRM’s success, “Seninde appealed.
Voting for both constituencies is scheduled to take place on August 11, 2022.
Daniel Othieno,the Returning Officer, Pallisa District also declared Okoboi Joseph Opolot & Bantalib Issa Taligola to contest in the by-election of MP, Gogonyo County Constituency, Pallisa District.