Mr. Uthuman, the son of the late Kadiri Kirungi, the former district chairperson who tragically lost his life in a road accident on March 17th along the Kampala-Hoima road, has secured a resounding victory by amassing a total of 18,353 votes.
In the September 14 Hoima District LCV by-election, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Mr. Uthuman Mugisha Mubaraka, emerged as the clear winner. The official results were declared on Thursday night by Hoima District Returning Officer, Ms. Merab Kasande, at the Dwoli Primary School tally center. The announcement was made in the presence of the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama.
Mr. Uthuman, hailing from a respected lineage, followed in the footsteps of his late father, Kadiri Kirungi, to claim victory in this crucial election. Tragically, Kadiri Kirungi had met with a fatal accident on March 17th along the Kampala-Hoima road, leaving a significant void in leadership.
Mr. Mugisha’s triumph in this election now anoints him as the newly elected Hoima District LCV Chairperson.
His closest contender, an independent candidate with ties to the NRM, Mr. Vincent Muhumuza, managed to secure 12,020 votes. It’s noteworthy that Mr. Muhumuza had previously clinched the second position during the NRM party primaries on August 28th, where he competed against six other candidates. This marks his third attempt at securing the same seat since 2016.
The pool of candidates also included Mr. Moses Aguuda of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who garnered 3,972 votes, Mr. Patrick Musinguzi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) with 271 votes, and Mr. Lenox Mugume, running as an independent, who received 179 votes.
The final tally of valid votes cast stood at 34,795, with 724 votes deemed invalid. A total of 35,519 ballot papers were counted, and 56 of them were spoiled.
The people of Hoima District faced the critical task of choosing a successor to the late Kadiri Kirungi, who had dutifully served as their district chairman since 2016 until his untimely passing in March.
In his victory speech, Mr. Uthuman underscored the paramount importance of unity and peace. He pledged to continue the noble work initiated by his father, stating:
“I am committed to working tirelessly for the people of Hoima District. Many have grappled with land-grabbing issues, which I am determined to address. I will engage with the relevant authorities and ministries to ensure that land titles are issued, and those entitled to compensation receive their rightful dues.”
Justice Byabakama, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, lauded the largely smooth and fair electoral process. Despite minor disruptions caused by morning rain, he commented:
“This has been one of the most well-conducted by-elections we’ve witnessed. In previous elections, we often received numerous calls and complaints, but this time, issues were minimal. Personally, I received just one call. For those who faced defeat, they must bide their time until 2026.”
Ms. Rosemary Sseninde, the Director of Mobilization in the NRM party, attributed the victory of the NRM candidate to the active involvement of youth in the exercise. She emphasized the party’s recognition of the importance of continued collaboration with the youth. According to her, the people of Hoima embraced the party’s development-oriented message.
The by-election victory marks a pivotal moment in the political landscape of Hoima District as Uthuman Mugisha Mubaraka takes office, determined to carry forward his father’s legacy and address the pressing issues confronting the community.
Would you like to get published on this Website? You can now email Uganda Times: an Opinion, any breaking news, Exposes, story ideas, human interest, articles, or any interesting videos: news@ugandatimes.ug. Or join the Ugandatimes WhatsApp Group or Telegram Channel for the latest updates
