By KT Reporter
The incumbent Member of Parliament for Kagoma County, Moses Walyomu, has vowed to contest as an independent candidate in next year’s general election, following what he describes as a violent and unfair National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary election process.
Walyomu lost the NRM flag to renowned educationist Frederick Munyirwa, who garnered 12,004 votes against his 9,955 in the recently concluded party primaries. Walyomu alleges that the polling process was marred by grave irregularities and life-threatening attacks aimed at derailing his campaign. He recounted an incident just two days before the primaries in which a supporter of his opponent, aware of a strategy meeting he was chairing, allegedly rammed a vehicle into the group intending to end his life.
Walyomu survived but sustained a fractured leg, while two of his senior vote protection officers were severely injured. “The attack crippled our mobilization efforts,” he said. “I filed a case at Buwenge Police Station, but to date, no meaningful action has been taken against the suspects.”
Walyomu further revealed that on polling day, while monitoring stations in Namegera Town Council in Jinja District, he was ambushed by a group of youths known locally as “Egali.” He claims they falsely accused him of voter bribery, beat him up, and vandalized his vehicle with stones—all in full view of security personnel who did not intervene.
His driver, also injured in the chaos, managed to escape with him to the main road, where well-wishers assisted them to nearby medical facilities for first aid. Walyomu says all the attacks were documented by security officials, but no justice has been served.
“After consultations with my lawyers and supporters, I have resolved to stand as an independent candidate,” said Walyomu, adding that it would be his second time to do so after a similar fallout in 2020. He went on to win that election in 2021, despite having lost the NRM primary. He believes that general elections are conducted with tighter security and procedural oversight, offering hope for a fairer process.
“Unlike the NRM primaries where some security lapses are tactically instituted to favor certain candidates, the general elections have more stringent controls,” Walyomu argued. Kiira Regional Police Spokesperson, James Mubi, confirmed that investigations into election-related violence are ongoing. He said several suspects have already been arrested and are facing charges including assault and malicious damage.
“We encourage all affected individuals to formally report incidents. Our standby teams are ready to expedite investigations into all election-related offenses,” Mubi said. Meanwhile, Frederick Munyirwa, the NRM flag bearer, dismissed Walyomu’s claims. He stated that his team maintained discipline throughout the electoral process and that the public endorsed him based on those values.
Munyirwa instead accused Walyomu’s supporters of attacking his campaign team. He claimed some of his followers were injured by machete-wielding individuals allegedly aligned to Walyomu’s camp, and that suspects in those incidents were also arrested. “Rather than running as an independent, I challenge Hon. Walyomu to join me in promoting the NRM ideology across Kagoma County,” Munyirwa said. “That unity would better serve our community and consolidate political power.”
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