AGAIN! FDC Candidate Owebeyi Loses to NRM’s Kwizera in Bukimbiri

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) politician James Owebeyi has lost the Bukimbiri County Constituency byelection, making it the second time he is losing a poll for the second time in less than two years. 

In the 2021 parliamentary election, Owebeyi had polled 104 becoming the worst performer in the race that had attracted four candidates. Martin Muhereza got 167 votes; Asgario Turyagyenda 11,330 while Kwizera had been declared winner after garnering 11,821.

However, Owebeyi had run to the High Court in Kabale challenging the results on grounds that there were errors in the names printed on ballot papers, and praying for orders to have the election results cancelled and a new poll organized by the Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama-led Electoral Commission (EC).

But Justice Phillip Odoki of the Kabale High Court declined to grant Owebeyi’s prayers, reasoning that there was a huge margin between the petitioner and Kwizera, the winner of the election.

FDC’s Owebeyi would later run to the Court of Appeal where Justices Fredrick Egonda-Ntende and Eva Luswata agreed with him and granted his prayers that the EC conducts a fresh election in Bukimbiri.

The election was held on Thursday, August 12, and Owebeyi was a candidate. As was the case in 2021, the FDC candidate also came last. The difference is that while he had managed 104 votes in 2021, he has now garnered 280.

Muhereza got 308 votes, Turyagyenda 10,105 votes and Kwizera 12,214 votes, according to official results released by Kisoro Electoral District Returning Officer Daniel Nayebare.

“Accordingly, as Returning Officer for Kisoro Electoral District, and in accordance with Section 58(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005 (as amended), I declare Kwizera Eddie Wa-Gahungu, who has obtained the largest number of votes to be the elected candidate for Bukimbiri County Constituency, Kisoro Electoral District,” announced Returning Officer Nayebare.

It should be remembered that Joshua Mutabaazi, the National Unity Platform (NUP), was withdrawn from the race to support the FDC candidate. Mutabaazi has since officially joined the NRM. (Read Story Here).

Meanwhile, an NUP candidate that Bobi Wine’s party refused to officially withdraw from the Gogonyo race has managed to get about 500 votes, but lost miserably to NRM’s Derrick Orone. (Read Story and See Full Results Here).

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