KIBALE — The Electoral Commission (EC) has declared the Minister of Gender, Labor and Social Development Hon Frank Tumwebaze as the unopposed Member of Parliament for Kibale East ahead of 2021 general elections.
This decision by the commission follows the withdrawal of Tumwebaze’s opponents from the parliamentary race.
“I Magezi George William duly nominated Tumwebaze Frank Kagyigyi and Atuhaire George Wilson on 15th October 2020 and Nuwagaba Arthur on 16th October 2020 for Member of Parliament for Kibale East County Constituency in Kamwenge Electoral district,” Magezi said in a 19 November letter to the EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama.
“The commission received and considered withdrawal notices of candidature by Atuhaire George Wilson and Nuwagaba Arthur from the parliamentary race for Kibale East County Constituency in Kamwenge Electoral District,” the letter further reads.
Magezi said that following the withdrawal of Tumwebaze’s opponents, the minister automatically becomes the duly elected MP for Kibale East.
Tumwebaze becomes the 8th NRM MP to sail through to the 11th Parliament awaiting swearing in unopposed.
Tumwebaze joins other seven members of parliament that went through the two day nomination exercise unopposed which granted them seats in the 11th parliament without participating in the election process.
By closure of the two day nomination exercise, no single individual had expressed interest to contest against them.
The seven who are members of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) are Wakabi Pius for Bugahya County in Hoima District, Okwang Hillary of Ik County in Kaabong District and Nyongore Enock for Nakaseke North in Nakaseke District.
The others are Kugonza Emely of Buyanja East, Kibaale District, Papalu Lillian Obiale for Woman MP Arua District as well as Gyaviira Ssemwanga of Buyamba County in Rakai district.
It should be remembered that in the 2016 elections, NRM received nine members of parliament unopposed to the now ending 10th parliament.