The National Unity Platform just lost a candidate for parliament. The electoral body blocked Resty Sarah Kyarimpa from running for the Isingiro District Woman MP seat. Officials said her nomination papers were not valid. They found that one of her supporters from the district was listed twice on the forms. That left her with fewer than the ten distinct local voters required by law.
This decision came directly from the commission chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi. It reversed an earlier okay from the local returning officer. The NUP party is furious about it. They claim the move is politically motivated. They say someone offered Kyarimpa cash to drop out of the race before, and she said no. They think this disqualification is punishment for that refusal. The party also argues the commission's own computer system should prevent a single person from endorsing a candidate more than once. Their leader, Bobi Wine, called it a clear scheme to knock out opposition contenders.
The electoral commission has not responded to the bribery accusation. They generally state that all nomination issues are handled strictly by the book. With national elections coming up, these tensions are pretty standard. Opposition groups constantly say the system favors the ruling National Resistance Movement party. Any candidate unhappy with this kind of ruling can try to fight it in court.
This decision came directly from the commission chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi. It reversed an earlier okay from the local returning officer. The NUP party is furious about it. They claim the move is politically motivated. They say someone offered Kyarimpa cash to drop out of the race before, and she said no. They think this disqualification is punishment for that refusal. The party also argues the commission's own computer system should prevent a single person from endorsing a candidate more than once. Their leader, Bobi Wine, called it a clear scheme to knock out opposition contenders.
The electoral commission has not responded to the bribery accusation. They generally state that all nomination issues are handled strictly by the book. With national elections coming up, these tensions are pretty standard. Opposition groups constantly say the system favors the ruling National Resistance Movement party. Any candidate unhappy with this kind of ruling can try to fight it in court.
