A 75-Year-Old Taxi Driver has beaten his closest rival, a 72-Year-Old Trader, to the NRM LC1 Flag in the Kabale northern division village of Lower Bugongi. Jotham Sam Turyamureeba, 75, seeks to replace another elder who passed away last month after losing a long battle to cancer. The first runner up, Yosam Biramahiire, 72, is twice the age of the second runner up, football referee Kagwa Becham, 36.
Turyamureeba emerged victorious in the NRM village structure elections held on Friday at Bugongi Roundabout. He defeated businessman Yosam Biramahiire, 72, and renowned football referee Francis Kagwa Becham, 36. While campaigning, Turyamureeba appealed to voters to support him, saying he has vast experience in community leadership and pledged to serve residents diligently. He said he previously served as the village vice ch 75-Year-Old Taxi Driver Beats 72-Year-Old Trader for NRM LC1 Flag in Kabale
Jotham Sam Turyamureeba, 75, seeks to replace the recently deceased elderly and the long serving Eric Karemeera, who recently died of cancer. At 36, 2nd runner up Francis Kagwa Becham, is half the age of 1st runner of, 72-year-old Yosam Biramahiire.
Jotham Sam Turyamureeba, a 75-year-old renowned taxi driver who has operated along the Kabale–Kisoro Road for decades, has been declared the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for the LC1 Chairperson seat of Bugongi Road Village in Lower Bugongi Ward, Northern Division, Kabale Municipality.
Turyamureeba emerged victorious in the NRM village structure elections held on Friday at Bugongi Roundabout. He defeated businessman Yosam Biramahiire, 72, and renowned football referee Francis Kagwa Becham, 36.
While campaigning, Turyamureeba appealed to voters to support him, saying he has vast experience in community leadership and pledged to serve residents diligently. He said he previously served as the village vice chairperson but was forced to leave office because of unavoidable work commitments.
Biramahiire also sought voters’ support, saying he had previously contested against the late Eric Karemeera but lost because he was heavily engaged in business, transporting goods between Kabale, Kampala, and Jinja, leaving him with little time for leadership. He said he is now operating businesses from home and is fully available to serve the village. He added that he has previously served on the village council committee.
Kagwa, who is half the age of the youngfer of his two rivals, displayed campaign posters across Bugongi and urged voters to embrace youthful leadership. He argued that, at 36 years of age, it was time for the younger generation to take up leadership positions. He also pledged that if elected, he would not charge residents for official village stamp services.
During the voting exercise, which was conducted by lining up behind candidates without the use of a voters’ register, campaign agents of Biramahiire were seen distributing roasted groundnuts and soya beans to people while encouraging them to join and remain in his line.
The election was won by Turyamureeba, who garnered 225 votes. He was declared the winner by Christine Mercy Kembabazi, the NRM Registrar for Northern Division. Biramahiire received 95 votes, while Kagwa finished third with 58 votes.
After being declared the winner, an emotional Turyamureeba broke down in tears as he thanked residents for entrusting him with leadership. Jubilant supporters lifted him into the air in celebration. He pledged to serve all residents without discrimination and called upon those who had supported his opponents to unite behind him ahead of the forthcoming general village elections.
Shortly after the declaration of results, Kagwa left the venue without saying any word. Biramahiire conceded defeat, saying he accepted the outcome because Turyamureeba’s age and experience make him well suited to lead the village.
Lower Bugongi Ward Councillor Tadeo Matsiko and NRM supporter Emmanuel Ichumu Niwagaba described the election as peaceful and well conducted. Turyamureeba replaces the long serving late Eric Karemeera, who died of cancer in June 2026.He will now carry the NRM flag in the Bugongi Road Village LC1 Chairperson election, which is scheduled for July 28, 2026, according to the Electoral Commission roadmap.
Endsairperson but was forced to leave office because of unavoidable work commitments. Biramahiire also sought voters’ support, saying he had previously contested against the late Eric Karemeera but lost because he was heavily engaged in business, transporting goods between Kabale, Kampala, and Jinja, leaving him with little time for leadership.He said he is now operating businesses from home and is fully available to serve the village. He added that he has previously served on the village council committee.
Kagwa, who is half the age of the youngfer of his two rivals, displayed campaign posters across Bugongi and urged voters to embrace youthful leadership. He argued that, at 36 years of age, it was time for the younger generation to take up leadership positions. He also pledged that if elected, he would not charge residents for official village stamp services.
During the voting exercise, which was conducted by lining up behind candidates without the use of a voters’ register, campaign agents of Biramahiire were seen distributing roasted groundnuts and soya beans to people while encouraging them to join and remain in his line. The election was won by Turyamureeba, who garnered 225 votes. He was declared the winner by Christine Mercy Kembabazi, the NRM Registrar for Northern Division. Biramahiire received 95 votes, while Kagwa finished third with 58 votes.
After being declared the winner, an emotional Turyamureeba broke down in tears as he thanked residents for entrusting him with leadership. Jubilant supporters lifted him into the air in celebration. He pledged to serve all residents without discrimination and called upon those who had supported his opponents to unite behind him ahead of the forthcoming general village elections.
Shortly after the declaration of results, Kagwa left the venue without saying any word. Biramahiire conceded defeat, saying he accepted the outcome because Turyamureeba’s age and experience make him well suited to lead the village.
Lower Bugongi Ward Councillor Tadeo Matsiko and NRM supporter Emmanuel Ichumu Niwagaba described the election as peaceful and well conducted. Turyamureeba replaces the long serving late Eric Karemeera, who died of cancer in June 2026.He will now carry the NRM flag in the Bugongi Road Village LC1 Chairperson election, which is scheduled for July 28, 2026, according to the Electoral Commission roadmap-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
