JINJA – Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Paul Kawanguzi has pulled out of the Jinja South Division West MP race in favour of erstwhile nemesis Dr Timothy Batuwa. Dr Batuwa had initially floored.
Kawanguzi with 47 votes against the latter’s 27 votes. However, the results were nullified on grounds that the electoral process was marred by irregularities.
A repeat poll was organized and Batuwa resoundingly defeated Kawanguzi with 55 votes against 4 votes.
Kawanguzi, however, cried foul, reasoning that the party should have disqualified Batuwa from the race instead of organizing a fresh poll with the already compromised delegates.
He vowed to contest for the seat as an independent but in a sudden turn of events, the FDC fire brand on Monday threw in the towel and accepted to rally behind Dr Batuwa and all FDC candidates in Jinja.
“For the sake of party cohension, I agree to withdraw from the race and rally behind all FDC flag bearers in the district,” Kawanguzi said.
The Jinja South Division West constituency is one of the hotspots in the forthcoming general election, with major political parties in the country parading their titans ready to rumble.
Those in the race include incumbent MP and NRM ideologue Moses Grace Balyeku, Alliance for National Transformation (ANT)’s fire spiting Hannington Basakana, National Unity Platform (NUP)’s Alex Mufumbiro and FDC’s Dr Batuwa.