Kyogonza bows out of 2026 Bujenje County MP race after tribunal loss
“Running as an independent would tear the party apart,” he stated, urging voters not to be swayed by money, which he said undermines accountability and service delivery.
Masindi: Fredrick Kyogonza Ford, who vied for the NRM flag in Bujenje County, Masindi District, has announced that he will not contest in the 2026 general elections.
Kyogonza finished fifth in the NRM primaries, which saw Kenneth Kiiza Nyendwoha win with 8,081 votes, followed by Kasumba Paddy Patrick (4,986), Grace Bukirwa Byakagaba (4,240), Cosmas Byaruhanga (2,069), Fredrick Kyogonza Ford (145), and Viola Busobozi (33).
Kyogonza had filed a petition to the party tribunal, citing vote tampering and bribery at Kiryajonjo polling station, where he alleged his votes were illegally transferred to Nyendwoha. However, the tribunal dismissed the petition.
“I petitioned the tribunal in good faith so that justice could prevail,” Kyogonza told our reporter.
Despite the setback, Kyogonza says he will not run as an independent, citing concerns about party unity.
“Running as an independent would tear the party apart,” he stated, urging voters not to be swayed by money, which he said undermines accountability and service delivery.
Attempts to reach Kenneth Kiiza Nyendwoha, the incumbent MP and NRM flag bearer, were unsuccessful as multiple calls went unanswered.
In a related development, Esther Lucy Acom, a recent contender in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries for Woman Member of Parliament, has officially declared her intention to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming 2026 general elections.
This announcement follows the NRM tribunal’s dismissal of her petition challenging the declaration of Hellen Adoa Abeku as the party’s flag bearer on July 17, 2025.
Acom had alleged electoral malpractice during the primaries, particularly accusing Adoa’s camp of distributing cards to as many as 150 agents per village, which she argued amounted to manipulation of the voting process. However, the tribunal ruled that her evidence did not meet the threshold to substantiate claims of bribery or misconduct.
Undeterred by the outcome, Acom announced her independent candidacy with a symbolic message.
“I have chosen a chair as my ballot symbol. The reason is that the flag is hers, but the seat is mine,” she declared, signaling her resolve to claim the mandate of the people despite losing the party ticket.
In the July primaries, Adoa secured 32,922 votes, while Acom garnered 21,175. The margin has not shaken Acom’s belief in her connection with the electorate.
Her campaign as an independent will likely focus on grassroots engagement and a message of authentic representation free from partisan constraints.
Do you have an advertisement or article you want to publish? Mail us at theugreports@gmail.com or WhatsApp +256757022363.
