Supporters of FDC party candidate for the Rukungiri District Woman MP seat, Betty Muzanira, on Wednesday morning painted the district blue as their candidate was cleared to run for the much coveted seat.
Muzanira was escorted by party heavy weights led by the former FDC leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, party president Patrick Amuriat, chairman of the party Wasswa Birigwa, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Winfred Kizza, among others.
FDC supporters crowded the roads leading to Rukungiri district headquarters, singing songs praising their candidate.
The Electoral Commission set May 2 and May 3 for the nomination exercise at Rukungiri district headquarters.
Successful candidates will conduct campaign meetings for 26 days from May 4 to May 29.
Voting is slated for May 31, following a High Court ruling that ordered for fresh polls after Muzanira challenged NRM’s Winfred Matsiko’s victory.
Muzanira petitioned the High Court accusing NRM of bribing voters and giving donations during campaigns.
Dr Besigye recently accused President Museveni of openly bribing voters in Rukungiri ahead of the district Woman MP by-elections.
In his statement, he released Besigye punched poles, in Museveni’s reason of poverty alleviation, that’s why he gave out goods worth sh5b. Besigye added that Rukungiri is a fairly “RICH” district.
“If Mr Museveni is genuinely concerned about fighting poverty in Uganda, Dr Besigye asked;- “why would he spend billions of State House money that wasn’t budgeted-for in Rukungiri, which isn’t among the poorest districts of Uganda?”
“According to UNDP Human Development Report of 2008, the poorest 10 Districts in Uganda were: Kaabong, Abim, Kotido, Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Yumbe, Kalangala, Kaberamaido, Kisoro, and Rakai” Besigye noted.
Museveni defends his move
While meeting the local residents in Rukungiri district, the President told them that the money he used to buy goods and donated to groups got it from his pocket.
He also said there is a lot of money in government but Ugandans don’t know how to get it.
“The young ones have been caught up in FDC which is deceiving them,” the President added.
The President however said he rushed to deliver his donations so that he doesn’t get caught up with the electoral laws.