Rose Kabagyeni previously served as Kisoro's Woman MP from 2016 to 2021 but lost the seat in the 2021 elections to the late Sarah Mateke.
KISORO - Rose Kabagyeni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer, is set to reclaim her parliamentary seat in the Kisoro District Woman Member of Parliament by-election.
Ms Kabagyeni's recent victory in the NRM primaries, where she narrowly defeated her closest contender Grace Akifeza Ngabirano by 744 votes, has revitalized her campaign and solidified her position as a leading candidate.
She previously served as Kisoro's Woman MP from 2016 to 2021 but lost the seat in the 2021 elections to the late Sarah Mateke.
Now, with Mateke's passing, Kabagyeni sees this by-election as an opportunity to return to serve her district.
The Kisoro by-election promises to be a competitive race, with six candidates in contention: one independent and representatives from four opposition parties, in addition to Kabagyeni.
Who is Rose Kabagyeni?
Kabagyeni is currently a Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture, a role that complements her background as an agriculturalist.
She was born on 4th August 1974 in Nyakabande sub-county, Kisoro District. She completed her primary education at Gikoro Primary School in 1987 and her secondary education at Seseme Girls' Secondary School in Kisoro.
Her academic journey continued with a certificate in agriculture (1995) and a diploma in agriculture from Bukalasa Agricultural College (2000).
Ms Kabagyeni earned a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture from Makerere University in 2004, followed by a diploma and a certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation from Uganda Management Institute, and later completed her master's degree in agriculture at Makerere in 2014.
In 2016, she left her role as a consultant for the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) to pursue her political career, successfully winning the Woman MP seat for Kisoro District.
At 40 years old, Kabagyeni's political journey has seen its share of challenges. She first contested in 2006, losing her first two attempts before winning in 2016.
"In 2016, I finally won after trying for the third time. My political journey has been a defining part of my life," she shared.
Kabagyeni cites President Museveni as her political role model, admiring his approach to leadership and his attentiveness to the people.
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"President Museveni loves the people of Uganda deeply, and I admire his commitment to listening to the people he leads," she said.
When asked about her support base, Kabagyeni expressed gratitude for the backing she has received from the people of Kisoro.
"My political journey has been driven by the people of Kisoro. I have no godfather or financial backers, only the support of my community," she stated, noting that her family, though humble, offers her moral support.
If elected, Kabagyeni plans to focus on improving tourism roads, which have been neglected for years, and on following through with the presidential pledges for Kisoro.
She also called for unity among Kisoro's people, emphasizing that collective progress can drive the district forward.
With NRM's longstanding influence in Kisoro, Kabagyeni is optimistic about her chances.
As the by-election draws near, all eyes are on whether her experience and NRM backing will secure her a return to Parliament.
Will Rose Kabagyeni's experience and NRM affiliation give her an edge in the by-election? Stay tuned as the campaign unfolds.
