NRM declines to overturn Rwakoojo victory in Gomba

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Elections Tribunal has upheld the election of Robinah Gureme Rwakoojo as its Gomba West parliamentary flag bearer for the 2021 elections.

The Tribunal is handling hundreds of election petitions following the September 04 primary elections whose results some aspirants disputed.

In some areas, the NRM Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Dr Fred Tanga Odoi has ordered vote recounts and announced fresh results.

For example, in Ntungamo’s Rushenyi County, Tanga Odoi declared junior labour minister Mwesigwa Rukutana flag bearer almost three weeks after district party election officer Miria Mirembe had announced the long-serving MP’s rival and former Ntungamo Woman MP Naomi Kabasharira winner.

In other areas such as Nyabushozi, NRM National Chairman President Yoweri Museveni sent out security officers to do an audit.

For Gomba West, the NRM Elections Tribunal has dismissed Rwakoojo’s opponent’s claims and upheld the incumbent MP’s victory.

The tribunal ruled: “The petition and evidence backing it is weak. There is no credible evidence of ferrying people between villages. Neither is there evidence of bribery.”

THE GENESIS

According to results from the primary election, Rwakoojo polled 28,237 to beat five rivals, including Eng Wilberforce Kaggwa who managed 6,833 votes.

But Kaggwa petitioned the NRM EC and Elections Tribunal, challenging the poll results.

Kaggwa accused Rwakoojo of bribing voters and election officials to help her rig him out.

He also claimed that results for Kangogero Polling Station had been altered to favour Rwakoojo.