Uganda Picks

By Martha Nakimuli

In the just concluded Jinja Municipality East MP by-elections Paul Mwiru won the race with 1,701 votes.

Mwiru was last night declared winner by the returning officer, Ms Flavia Mujulizi, in the presence of Leader of Opposition in Parliament Nandala Mafabi and EC boss Badru Kiggundu.

Ms Flavia Mujulizi after the tallying of the votes read out that Paul Mwiru had got 7758 votes, NRM’s Igeme Nabeta got 6057 votes, DP’s Alex Waisswa Mufumbiro got 291 votes, Independent  Cranmer Dhikusooka went away with with 28 votes and UPC’s Osinde Onzu had only 16 votes.

The total number of votes cast was 14,150, of which 152 were declared invalid.

Electoral Commission boss Eng. Badru Kiggundu called for reconciliation among the warring parties if development in the area is to be achieved.

NRM party has however accepted defeat attributing their failure to the internal wrangles in the party.

FDC supporters from yesterday have been jubilating Mwiru’s victory including the major members of the opposition.

The Jinja East MP seat fell Vacant after court nullified the election of Igeme Nathan Nabeta over lack of required qualification documents a case filed by Paul Mwiru.

Nabeta however denied the allegations claiming that he has substantial academic document but they were not scrutinized by the National Council of higher Education which he did before nominations kicked off.

Though he (Nabeta) Promised to defeat other candidates, he has been let down with  a victory of 1,701 votes which is quite a big margin.