Kisoro, Uganda | The nomination process for the Kisoro Woman MP by-election kicked off with two candidates securing their spots on the first day. Rose Kabagyeni, representing the National Resistance Movement (NRM), and Musanase Juliet from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) under the Najjanankumbi faction were both nominated.
Kabagyeni, who is also the Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture, was nominated by Daniel Nayebare, the Kisoro District Electoral Commission Returning Officer. Following her nomination, she held a rally at Kisoro Mayor’s Gardens where she emphasized her commitment to uniting the people of Kisoro and advocating for the district’s development, especially highlighting its potential as a tourism destination.
Musanase faced some initial hurdles during her nomination. Her team, led by James Owebeyi, a former candidate for Bukimbiri County MP, was delayed for about 20 minutes by a police officer from the Counter Terrorism department for unspecified reasons. Once allowed into the nomination room, they encountered further delays when one of Musanase’s nominators was not listed on the voters' register, requiring them to find an alternative nominator.
After overcoming these obstacles, Musanase promised to focus on the development of projects that had been neglected by previous leaders. This marks her fourth attempt to secure the seat after previous losses.
In a separate incident, Aisha Chimpaye, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) candidate, was turned away for arriving late—at 4:58 PM—missing the nomination deadline set for 5:00 PM. Nayebare advised her to return on Thursday.
The Electoral Commission's roadmap indicates that voting is scheduled for November 14. The by-election was prompted by the passing of Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi on September 7 due to a heart attack. A total of eight candidates have picked nomination forms to contest for the seat.
