By Kabuye Ronald
Former Kisoro District Woman MP Rose Kabagyeni has taken a significant step toward reclaiming her parliamentary seat by winning the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries held on Friday.
Kabagyeni triumphed over her closest competitor, Grace Akifeza Ngabirano, securing 39,941 votes (47.7%) to Ngabirano’s 39,197 votes (46.8%), a margin of 744 votes.
The NRM Electoral Commission chairman, Tanga Odoi, announced Kabagyeni as the official party flag bearer, concluding a competitive primary election that saw all candidates’ campaign jointly in a group format. Despite a crowded field that included six other aspirants, Kabagyeni and Ngabirano emerged as the leading contenders.
The upcoming by-election, scheduled for November 14, follows the death of Sarah Mateke, the former State Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs, who had held the Woman MP seat for Kisoro. Mateke’s passing in early September has prompted this election, with Kabagyeni eager to reclaim the seat she lost to Mateke in the 2021 elections.
Prior to the primaries, President Museveni, the party chairman, summoned the 13 aspirants to State House, urging them to consider backing Kabagyeni. While five candidates withdrew their aspirations, Ngabirano and several others insisted that the decision should rest with the voters.
Other candidates in the primaries included Hellen Mbonye, Winfred Faith Igiraneza, Jemimah Irakunda, Blessed Kitentera, Irene Mahirwe, and Fancy Brenda Nirere, all of whom received significantly fewer votes.
With Kabagyeni now positioned as the NRM’s candidate, she aims to rally support from the community to reclaim her position in Parliament and continue her advocacy for the people of Kisoro.
