NRM Dominates Kigezi LC1 Elections, Wins 1,886 Village Chairperson Seats

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has emerged as the dominant political party in the just-concluded Local Council I (LC1) chairperson elections in the Kigezi Sub-region, winning 1,886 of the 3,301 village chairperson seats across the region.

The elections, conducted on Tuesday across the six districts of Kigezi, saw independent candidates secure 635 seats, while the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) won 148 seats. The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) won three seats, and the National Unity Platform (NUP) secured one seat.

Voting in eight villages in Kisoro District was postponed on Tuesday because of security concerns. The affected villages were Gihabura and Gahunga in Murora Sub-county, Gakenke in Mupaka Town Council, Ngego in Nyarusiza Sub-county, Burunga in Muramba Sub-county, Kateriteri in Bukimbiri Sub-county, and Kisunyu and Rwamashenyi in Nyanamo Sub-county. 

According to Kigezi Regional Police spokesperson Nelson Tumushime, the elections in the affected villages were successfully conducted on Wednesday after security was reinforced. Electoral Commission results released on Wednesday show that the NRM won 1,886 village chairperson seats, representing the overwhelming majority of victories across the sub-region. Independent candidates followed with 635 seats, while the PFF secured 148 seats. The FDC won three seats, and the NUP managed one seat.

In Rubanda District, 150 of the 476 village chairperson candidates were elected unopposed. The NRM won 228 seats, while independent candidates secured 98. No other political party won a seat in the district. Kanungu District recorded 199 unopposed candidates out of 525 villages. The NRM won 393 seats, independents secured 132, while the NUP won one seat. Other political parties failed to win any seat.

Kabale District had only five unopposed candidates out of 728 villages. The NRM won 562 seats, independent candidates secured 151, while the PFF and FDC won two seats each. In Rukiga District, 200 of the 293 candidates were elected unopposed. The NRM secured 250 seats, independents won 42, while the FDC won one seat.

Rukungiri District recorded one of the strongest performances by the PFF. Out of 831 villages, the NRM won 523 seats, independent candidates secured 147, while the PFF won 146 seats. Fifteen candidates were elected unopposed. In Kisoro District, where 53 candidates were elected unopposed, the NRM won 330 seats while independent candidates secured 65. No other political party won a seat.

NRM Deputy National Treasurer and head of the party’s mobilisation team in the Kigezi Sub-region, Jackline Kyatuheire, welcomed the results, attributing the party’s strong performance to unity and effective mobilisation among its members. Meanwhile, Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) Rubanda District Chairperson Obed Habasa said the party did not field candidates in the LC1 elections across Kigezi. He blamed the absence on internal disagreements within the party’s top leadership.