Paul Mwiru has won the Jinja East parliamentary by –election beating four other candidates including former MP Nathan Igeme Nabeta.
Jinja district returning officer, Flavia Mujulizi declared Mwiru winner at around 9:30pm on Thursday. The Forum for Democratic Change party candidate polled 7758 votes against 6057 votes for Nabeta, the National Resistance Movement candidate.
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Mujulizi said results from one poling station, Ntege, were cancelled for not tallying.
The results were announced at Jinja district council hall which was packed with FDC diehards including the party’s eastern region vice president Salaamu Musumba, Leader of Opposition in parliament Nathan Nandala Mafabi, and MPs Samuel Odonga Otto, Wafula Ogutu and Abdu Katuntu. Also present were Major General Mugisha Muntu, the FDC secretary for mobilisation and the chairperson of the women’s league Ingrid Turinawe.
According to the Electoral Commission, 14302 voters were registered to vote in the bye election and out of these 14150 turned up to vote. At least 152 votes were recorded as invalid.
Other candidates in the race included DP’s Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro who polled 291 votes, Cranimer Dhikusooka (Independent) with 28 votes and UPC’s Richie Oyo Osinde who trailed with 16 votes.
The bye election folled December 16th Court of Appeal ruling on the case filed by Mwiru in which Nabeta’s election was nullified on grounds of lack of minimum academic qualifications, and voter bribery.
Addressing journalists shortly after being declared winner, Mwiru hailed voters for standing boldly amidst what he called challenges and state intimidation saying, it was the common man’s victory.
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He however accused police of promoting violence and electoral malpractice during campaigns.
Mwiru claimed that the police was conniving with leaders in the ruling NRM party including lands minister Daudi Migereko and Butaleja RDC Richard Gulume Balyaino to bribe voters under the protection of police.
