Forum for Democratic Change candidate,Betty Muzanira has been declared the winner of the hotly contested Rukungiri district Woman Member of Parliament.
Muzanira got 50,611 votes beating her close rival Winfred Matsiko of National Resistance Movement party who got 46,379 votes.The others in the race got less than 2000 votes.
The ruling NRM party was determined to retain the district seat but Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the opposition seems to have been resolved to marshal against an evidently tumultuous environment to clinch yet another seat in Parliament.
Rukungiri district has 16 sub counties, 87 parishes, 280 polling stations and 177,086 registered voters.
The four candidates who participated for the Rukungiri District Woman MP position: Winfred Matsiko (NRM), Betty Muzanira (FDC), Fabith Kukundakwe (PPP) and Prisca Sezi Mbaguta (independent). Two independent candidates: Atukunda Sheilla and Rwakitonera Elizabeth withdrew from the race days to the polling date, citing financial reasons.
Rukungiri woman parliamentary seat fell vacant after appellant court judges led by former Deputy Chief Justice, Stephen Kavuma nullified the election of candidate Winfred Matsiko over voter bribery following electoral petition that was filed by Betty Muzanira.
The by-election pitted opposition kingpin Kizza Besigye and President Yoweri Museveni as they two stormed the district to address rallies for their candidates. Rukungiri is a home to Besigye.
