Mr. Uthuman Mugisha Mubaraka, a candidate from the National Resistance Movement (NRM), has won the election in Hoima District. This election took place on September 14, and the official results were announced on Thursday night at Dwoli Primary School tally center by Hoima District Returning Officer, Ms. Merab Kasande. Justice Simon Byabakama, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, was also present.
Mr. Uthuman, who is the son of the late Kadiri Kirungi, a former district chairperson who tragically passed away in a road accident on March 17 along the Kampala-Hoima road, won with a total of 18,353 votes.
His closest competitor, an independent candidate with NRM leanings, Mr. Vincent Muhumuza, secured 12,020 votes. This was Mr. Muhumuza’s third attempt to secure the seat since 2016.
Other candidates in the race included Mr. Moses Aguuda of the National Unity Platform (NUP) with 3,972 votes, Mr. Patrick Musinguzi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) with 271 votes, and Mr. Lenox Mugume, an independent candidate, who received 179 votes.
A total of 34,795 valid votes were cast, with 724 votes considered invalid. In total, 35,519 ballot papers were counted, with 56 of them spoiled.
The election was held to choose a successor to the late Kadiri Kirungi, who had been serving as the district chairman since 2016 until his untimely passing in March.
In his victory speech, Mr. Uthuman stressed the importance of unity and peace. He pledged to continue the work his father had started and expressed his commitment to addressing land-grabbing issues, promising to reach out to relevant authorities and ministries to ensure land titles are issued and compensation is given to those in need.
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Byabakama, mentioned that despite some disruptions caused by rain in the morning, the election process was largely free and fair.
The Director for Mobilization in the NRM party, Ms. Rosemary Sseninde, attributed Mr. Uthuman’s win to the involvement of youth in the exercise and their message of development, indicating that they need to work closely with the youth.