Al- Mahdi Ssenkabirwa Fred Muzaale & Herbert Mugaga
2 May 2008
Kampala — Fresh from winning the Buikwe South constituency by-election, Democratic Party's Lulume Bayiga has described his victory as a defeat for President Yoweri Museveni and the state.
"I have not defeated Mr Mukasa [Anthony] but the President and his entire state machinery," a visibly elated Bayiga told Daily Monitor at his country home at Ziba Village in Ngogwe Sub county, Mukono.
This was moments after Dr Bayiga had been declared winner on Wednesday night. He polled 12,500 votes to trounce his main rival, the NRM's Anthony Mukasa who got 8,359 votes.
Independents; Mr Allan Gitta and Mr Abdullah Kimbowa garnered 171 votes and 219 respectively, according to results certified by the Mukono District Returning Officer, Hajj Ibrahim Kakembo.
As has been the norm in the recent by-elections, President Yoweri Museveni who also doubles as NRM chairman, visited the constituency and even promised district status last week to drum up support for Mr Mukasa but this did not help much.
Vice President Gilbert Bukenya and several cabinet ministers also camped in the constituency for the last two weeks on the same mission.
Mr Mukasa has conceded defeat for now but said the party leadership would sit in due course to forge a way forward.
"We accept the results as they are now but the NRM top leadership will sit soon to discuss on the way forward," Mr Mukasa said by telephone yesterday without elaborating.
According to the police, the electoral process was generally peaceful despite a few incidents of violence and malpractices that were reported in some areas.
Meanwhile, five people were arrested for allegedly engaging in electoral malpractices namely; bribery and threatening violence.
Deputy Police Publicist Sam Lubega said yesterday some four people who were still held at Lugazi Police Station and are expected in court today.
"As EC we say the exercise was free and fair and we advise those who lost to co-operate with the winner to develop the constituency," Electoral Commission Chairman Badru Kiggundu said minutes after announcing the results.
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