{"id":5676,"date":"2025-07-19T09:03:41","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T06:03:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westernpearlreports.com\/?p=5676"},"modified":"2025-07-19T09:03:41","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T06:03:41","slug":"mfitimana-dumps-nrm-runs-independent-after-flawed-primaries-marked-by-student-voting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westernpearlreports.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/19\/mfitimana-dumps-nrm-runs-independent-after-flawed-primaries-marked-by-student-voting\/","title":{"rendered":"Mfitimana Dumps NRM, Runs Independent After &#8216;Flawed&#8217; Primaries Marked by Student Voting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Kisoro, Uganda<\/strong> &#8211; Dr. Leo Mfitimana, the defeated aspirant for Member of Parliament in Kisoro Municipality, has declared his intention to contest as an independent candidate in the 2026 general elections following alleged malpractices in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He announced his decision during a press briefing at Santaviva Hotel in Kisoro Municipality, expressing disappointment over what he termed serious electoral irregularities that contradicted the NRM\u2019s democratic values.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to results announced by Kisoro District NRM Electoral Returning Officer Tadeo Majambere, Dr. Mfitimana secured second place with 2,788 votes (28%), losing to former MP Sam Byibesho, who garnered 4,270 votes (43.9%).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The hopeful legislator cited multiple incidents of violence, including clashes between rival supporters, and condemned the misuse of students in the electoral process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He accused some secondary school administrators of declaring an unauthorized public holiday to compel students to vote for specific candidates.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe voters\u2019 register was deeply flawed, with numerous eligible adults inexplicably omitted, while underage students were unlawfully mobilized to vote. The conduct of these primaries does not reflect the NRM\u2019s principles. Violence, voter manipulation, and the exploitation of students undermine democracy. I remain committed to the NRM ideology but will contest independently to ensure fair representation,\u201d Dr. Mfitimana stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier on Tuesday, Bukimbiri County MP Hon. Eddie Kwizera Wa-Gahungu had also raised concerns over the integrity of the voters&#8217; register used in the NRM primaries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kwizera\u2019s pre-election warnings about systemic irregularities in Kisoro initially dismissed by some as local grievances gained credibility as similar reports emerged from at least six other districts, citing missing voters, ballot irregularities, and youth voter coercion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> Wa-Gahungu referenced past discrepancies during the Kisoro Woman MP by-elections and urged the NRM Electoral Commission to synchronize its register with the national Electoral Commission\u2019s database to prevent future malpractices.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Kisoro Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Hajji Badru Ssebyalla and District Police Commander (DPC) Ben Niwamanya Kashumbusha warned that security agencies would strictly monitor electoral activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their statement followed reports of at least 12 secondary schools in Kisoro allegedly releasing students to participate in NRM primaries\u2014a practice officials condemned as \u201cunlawful indoctrination\u201d of underage voters.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSchools must remain sanctuaries of learning, not election centers. Section 19(1) of Uganda\u2019s Electoral Act makes no exceptions\u2014voting is exclusively for those meeting the 18-year threshold, and we will enforce this without exception,\u201d RDC Ssebyalla asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Mfitimana\u2019s move underscores growing dissatisfaction with internal party elections, raising questions about the transparency of the NRM\u2019s candidate selection process. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kisoro, Uganda &#8211; Dr. Leo Mfitimana, the defeated aspirant for Member of Parliament in Kisoro Municipality, has declared<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[306],"class_list":["post-5676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-kisorodecides"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Mfitimana Dumps NRM, Runs Independent After &#039;Flawed&#039; 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