By Ivan Mugisha
Kitagwenda District Woman Member of Parliament candidate, Dr. Grace Ninsiima, has rejected the election results that declared incumbent Dorothy Nyakato Nzibonera the winner and announced plans to challenge the outcome in the High Court over alleged electoral malpractice.
According to results released by the Electoral Commission (EC) and announced by the Kitagwenda District Returning Officer, Francis Kagoro, Dr. Ninsiima, who contested as an independent candidate, lost to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer.
Official results show that Nzibonera polled 31,218 votes (64.1 percent), while Dr. Ninsiima secured 17,283 votes (35.9 percent). However, Dr. Ninsiima has dismissed the figures, insisting that she won the election.
She alleged that the electoral process was marred by serious irregularities, including ballot stuffing and voter bribery.
Dr. Ninsiima said that after consultations with her legal team and supporters, and following the documentation of incidents before, during, and after polling day, she resolved to seek legal redress. She also urged her supporters to remain calm and law-abiding as the legal process unfolds.
Kitagwenda District, one of Uganda’s newer administrative units carved out of Kamwenge District, has in recent elections witnessed highly competitive political contests, particularly for the Woman Member of Parliament seat.
Nzibonera, the incumbent Woman MP, has previously won under the NRM ticket, benefiting from the party’s strong grassroots structures in the district.
The just-concluded election was closely watched, with Dr. Ninsiima mounting a vigorous independent campaign that attracted significant support, especially among young voters and rural communities.
Dr. Grace Ninsiima, PhD, is a Human Resource Management specialist, management consultant, and academic with over a decade of experience in higher education, having lectured in both public and private universities since 2011. She also participated in the NRM primaries in 2021 and is known for her work in leadership, governance, and organizational development.
