The independent candidate in the ongoing Kisoro District by-elections, Akifeza Grace Ngabirano, has urged voters in Kisoro to embrace vocational education as a means of addressing the high unemployment rate in the district and the country as a whole.
This appeal was made during her campaign trail in Rukundo, Nyarubuye, Nyakabande, and Kanaba Subcounties, where she was greeted by a downpour of enthusiastic supporters.
Akifeza Grace emphasized that vocational and skills-based institutions equip learners to become job creators, fostering innovation and creativity, which in turn reduces unemployment and enhances self-employment opportunities.
Ngabirano also spoke about her support for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and promised to continue the legacy of the late Sarah Nyirabashitsi Mateke, who passed away on 7th September 2024.
“Promoting education, providing bursaries for students, improving health facilities, ensuring gender equality, developing tourism infrastructure in Kisoro, and stabilizing border conflicts are key priorities in my 2024-2026 manifesto,” Akifeza noted.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chairperson of Kisoro District LC5, Nambajimana Alex, expressed his disappointment with the recently concluded NRM primaries, claiming there were numerous irregularities during the voting process. “The concluded NRM primaries were neither free nor fair.
Agents of Akifeza Ngabirano were intimidated, threatened, and subjected to vote-rigging. Some polling stations did not use the official NRM register, which is unacceptable under the party’s constitution. However, I urge all of you to come out in large numbers on 14th November 2024 to exercise your democratic right as the people of Kisoro,” Nambajimana said.
Similarly, Kisoro District Council Speaker, Alex Hakizimana, urged voters to focus on candidates’ political agenda, manifesto, and ability to lead, rather than their political party affiliation. “Being an independent candidate does not mean being against the NRM leadership. We are all still NRM and will remain NRM forever.
I was once an independent candidate as a councilor, and now I am the Speaker of Kisoro District. Even Vice President Jesca Alupo was an independent candidate. No one should deceive you into thinking we are against President Museveni,” Hakizimana stated.
