KIKUUBE — Burnet Mbabazi has emerged victorious in the National Resistance Movement primaries for the Kikuube District LC5 by-election, securing the party flag after polling 23,279 votes in a closely watched contest.
According to results announced by party electoral officials, Mbabazi garnered 58 percent of the total votes cast during the exercise, which was conducted across villages and sub-counties in Kikuube District.
The primaries were organised to identify the NRM flag bearer for the upcoming June 18 LC5 by-election following the death of former district chairperson Peter Banura Araali.
Mbabazi’s victory now positions him as the ruling party’s official candidate in the highly anticipated race in the oil-rich district, where the NRM maintains strong grassroots support.
Speaking after being declared winner, Mbabazi called for unity among party supporters and urged his rivals to rally behind the party ahead of the main election.
He described the primary exercise as largely peaceful and pledged to focus on development and service delivery during the campaign period.
However, the outcome was immediately contested by his closest rival, Paddy Kisembo, who rejected the results and alleged irregularities in parts of Buhimba and Kyangwali.
Kisembo claimed the declared figures did not reflect the actual voting process in some polling areas and demanded access to tally records to verify the outcome.
He also called on election administrators to provide greater transparency regarding the conduct of the exercise.
The dispute has exposed growing tensions within local NRM structures, with some political observers warning that divisions arising from the primaries could affect party cohesion ahead of the by-election.
Despite disputing the results, Kisembo has reportedly indicated that he may still pursue his political ambitions independently, a move that could alter the dynamics of the race.
The Kikuube LC5 seat fell vacant earlier this year after the death of Peter Banura Araali in a road accident, triggering renewed political competition in one of Uganda’s strategically important oil-producing districts.
With Mbabazi now carrying the NRM flag, attention is expected to shift to the official nomination process and the start of campaigns ahead of the June 18 vote.
