NRM Central Region Youth MP flag bearer: I only spent Shs30m; my opponent bought each vote at Shs500,000

The winner of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s central region youth parliamentary flag bearer election, Agnes Kirabo, has complained of gross acts of bribery of voters in  the October 10 polls.

Kirabo won the hotly contested race to become the 2021 parliamentary flag bearer.

She beat off competition from 10 contestants, including Justine Nameere, a media personality and daughter to Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, the minister of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries (Maaif).

Kirabo, a former internal auditor at the NRM secretariat, garnered 212 votes, equivalent to 44 per cent of the total votes cast. Her closest rival, Safari Felix Kaihura, the vice chairman of the National Youth Council, got 98 votes.

Mastullah Nakibuule got 75 votes (15.7 per cent), Nameere got 35 (7.3 per cent),  Alvin Semambiya polled 28 (5.9 per cent), Joanita Nanseko Makonzi managed 26 votes (5.4 per cent), Abdul Malike Kiberu garnered three votes (0.6 per cent) while Ester Namono got only one vote (0.2 per cent).

The rest – Victor Timothy Sserunkuma, Frederick Mujuuzi, Sharif Hakim Mabingo got zero, each.

Hours after NRM Electoral Commissioner Jane Alisemera declared her winner, Kirabo rushed to Worship House in Nansana Municipality to give thanks to the Lord for her victory.

Clad in a yellow dress, Kirabo stood before her pastor Wilson Bugembe and an online audience to praise God for helping her trounce sons and daughters of bigwigs, including top ministers and military officers.

If it was not because of God, she said, it would not have been possible for her to win.

She also said she had rejected advice to try witchcraft to help her win.

After shedding tears, Kirabo told believers that she had sent at least Shs1m to voters in each of the 30 30 districts that make up central region – including Greater Masaka, Greater Mukono, Greater Luweero, Wakiso,  and Kampala.

She further claimed that some of her wealthy opponents had spent millions of money to buy votes, with some of the offering Shs500,000 to each voter.

Voter bribery had characterized NRM primaries, with candidates sending millions through local council chairpersons, and leaders of women, youth and the elderly.

PHIONA NYAMUTORO, BONIFACE OKOT WIN

Meanwhile, former Makerere University deputy guild president Phiona Nyamutoro beat off competition from Desire Muhoza to win National Youth MP NRM flag.

Also, former Makerere University NRM guild presidential aspirant Henry Boniface Okot won the NRM flag for the Northern Uganda youth parliamentary seat.