One of the candidates in the Kasese Woman parliamentary by-election has pulled out of the race after reportedly meeting President Yoweri Museveni over the weekend.
Betty Kayezu Kagoro, an independent candidate, was fronted by the Basongora in Kasese to contest against three other candidates including Winifred Kiiza of FDC, Rehema Muhindo of NRM and Rose Mary Masika of the Democratic Party.
Uganda Radio Network has reliably learnt that after being nominated on Thursday, Kayezu and five members of her campaign team were invited on Saturday to meet President Museveni in Kampala.
Moses Baguma, who was part of the delegation, said that the President convinced Kayezu to stand down in favor of the NRM candidate Rehema Muhindo. He says that President Museveni argued that if she remains in the race, it will give Kiiza an advantage, because the NRM party votes will be split between Kayezu and Muhindo.
According to Baguma, Kayezu didn’t say anything after the President’s request.
However, a member of Kayezu’s campaign team, Basanga Muzamiru denied that the President told Kayezu to withdraw from the race. He says that they were only addressing issues concerning the Basongora ethnic group in the district.
Asked why they had to meet the President at such a time after she was nominated, Muzamiru refused to comment.
Yesterday, Kayezu was supposed to have addressed a rally at Lake Katwe Sub County in Busongora County, but she didn’t turn up, a move that her supporters interpreted as having withdrawn from the race.
In a telephone interview, the Kasese District Registrar, Vallay Kanzira said that the office hasn’t received formal confirmation from Kayezu, and that they still regard her as a candidate.
Kanzira says that Kayezu will only be declared out of the race if she officially writes to the Electoral Commission.
When contacted by Uganda Radio Network, Kayezu confirmed meeting President Museveni, but refused to comment further.
Kayezu’s meeting with Museveni has angered the Basongora who accused her of being a traitor and have threatened to shun the elections. The Basongora contributed 20 million shillings for her campaigns.
Festo Kajura, a former member of Kayezu’s campaign team says that they have ordered her to refund the money. Kajura says that Kayezu met the President secretly without informing some members of her campaign team.
The Kasese by-elections come at a time of tension between the Bakonzo and Basongora after the latter installed their own king and disowned the Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere.
The Kasese seat fell vacant following a court ruling that nullified the election of Winfred Kiiza over electoral malpractices. Voting is slated for August 8.
