KAMPALA – The National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate has withdrawn from the Sembabule Woman parliamentary race ahead of the 2021 general elections.
Zaituni Yahaya Babikola, who is also the NUP Sembabule district coordinator, in a letter to the party secretary-general, David Lewis Rubongoya, said she is incapable of continuing with the race due to lack of financial resources to canvass for votes across the district.
She asked the NUP leadership to formally write to Electoral Commission to strike her name from the list of candidates vying for Sembabule Woman parliamentary seat.
Her withdrawal leaves the National Resistance Movement-NRM party candidate Mary Begumisa unopposed.
Ibrahim Mpuuga, the Sembabule district NUP publicity secretary has confirmed receiving the notice from their candidate. He says they have unsuccessfully tried to reach her.
Mpuuga says they are suspicious of Babikola’s conduct because of her failure to participate in the party’s mobilization activities despite being the NUP coordinator for Sembabule district.
He says they will critically analyze the circumstances under which the candidate decided to withdraw her candidature.
Barbra Mulimira, the Sembabule Electoral Commission returning officer says they are yet to receive an official communication from the candidate or the political party which endorsed her nomination.
