Rukungiri By-Election: Heavy Security Deployment

There is heavy deployment of police in Rukungiri ahead of Thursday’s District Woman Member of Parliament By-election.

Armed police officers spent Wednesday patrolling the streets in Rukungiri Municipality.
There were also patrols in the sub counties of Nyarushanje and Nyakishenyi.

Patrick Onyango, the Deputy Police Spokesperson says that the heavy deployment is meant to ensure security of voters and electoral officers. He explains that there will be more deployment in the sub counties of Buyanja, Kebisoni, Bikurungu, and Nyarushanje, where they anticipate chaos.

Justice Simon Byabakama, the Electoral Commission Chairman, says that 177,086 voters are eligible to vote in tomorrow’s by-election.

Byabakama said that the commission has set up both a complaints desk and a media center at the district council hall, where election related concerns will be reported.

Byabakama also said that although Elizabeth Rwakitonera and Sheila Atukunda Kirebete, both independent candidates withdrew from the race, they will appear on the ballot paper. He explains that that they informed the commission after the ballot papers had been printed.

The candidates vying for Woman MP race, include Winnie Masiko, of the NRM party, FDC’s Betty Bamukwasa Muzanira, Peoples Progressive Party’s Fabith Kukundakwe and Independent candidate Prisca Sezi Mbaguta.

-URN