The Electoral Commission of Uganda has released the 2021 general election report, indicating that the opposition failed to field candidates in 17 parliamentary seats, which saw the ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidates go through unopposed.
According to the report, a total of 2,043 candidates were nominated and contested for the 353 constituencies for Directly Elected Members of Parliament, out of which 998 (49%) were sponsored by Political Parties/Organisations, while 1,045 (51%) were Independent candidates.
The unopposed Members of Parliament include; Ssemwanga Gyaviira (Buyamba County), Lokwang Hillary (Ik County), Onek Hilary (Palabek County), Achia Remigio (Pian County), Tumwebaze Frank (Kibale East), Abigaba Cuthbert Mirembe (Buyanja County) and Kasaija Matia (Buyanja East).
Other are Kugonza Emely, Wakabi Pius (Bugahya County), Kafuuzi Jackson (Kyaka South) and Nyongore Enock (Nakaseke North) for directly elected seats.
Women representatives included; Okia Joanne Aniku (Madi-Okollo), Among Anita Annet (Bukedea DWR), Paparu Lillian Obiale (DWR Arua), Begumisa Mary (DWR Ssembabule).
NRM also got three positions for the Older Persons including Gidudu Mafwabi Dominic (Eastern Region) and Western Region Joram Ruranga Tibasiimwa.
Joel Ssenyonyi, the spokesperson for National Unity Platform while reacting to the report, revealed that the election environment characterized by arrests and torture of their members, played the biggest role in the failure to field any candidates in some constituencies.
Henry Muguza, Executive Director of Alliance for Campaign Finance Monitoring (ACFIM) noted that most of the unopposed constituencies were just procured, by buying out the would be opposing candidates.
However, Joan Okia (DWR Madi Okollo) who was one of the candidates that went through unopposed rubbished allegations of bribing off her competitors.
She says that some of the candidates failed to meet the requirements needed by Electoral Commission during nominations which edged them off the competition.
