“It Is Not Yet Over” – Ingrid Kamateneti Challenges Tumukunde’s Victory

Rukungiri: Former Rukungiri Municipality parliamentary aspirant Ingrid Kamateneti Turinawe has rejected the victory of Gen. Henry Kakurugu Tumukunde, insisting that the election was marred by violence, intimidation, and electoral malpractice.

Speaking during a press conference held on January 18 at her home in Famers, Western Division of Rukungiri Municipality, Ingrid warned that the matter is far from concluded, saying her team is preparing to challenge the outcome.

According to the Returning Officer, Gen. Tumukunde of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) was declared winner after polling 7,115 votes, narrowly defeating Ingrid of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), who obtained 6,268 votes, a margin of 847 votes. Other candidates included Wallen Nuwagaba Tumwine (Independent) with 297 votes and Richard Akanyijuka (Independent) with 53 votes.

Ingrid dismissed the results, declaring that Tumukunde did not genuinely win the election.

“Wherever he is, he knows that he did not defeat Ingrid Kamateneti,” she said.

She accused Gen. Tumukunde of allegedly spending large sums of money on polling day, brutalizing her agents, and engaging in vote rigging. Ingrid described the election as a “military operation”, claiming that violence and intimidation were used to influence the outcome.

She further alleged that Tumukunde influenced the Rukungiri Electoral Commission to declare him winner, adding that it is only a matter of time before the alleged victory is overturned.

“We shall do whatever it takes to recover our victory. He will leave Parliament,” Ingrid warned.

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Ingrid also raised concerns over voter turnout figures, noting discrepancies between votes cast for different positions.

She claimed that the number of voters who participated in the Municipality parliamentary race was three times higher than those who voted for the presidential and district woman MP positions, despite all elections being conducted on the same day, at the same time, and using the same voter register a situation she said raises serious questions about the integrity of the process.

Ingrid detailed a series of alleged attacks on her campaign team throughout the campaign period and on the eve of polling day.

She said her agents and coordinators, including Simon, Joab, and Jassy, were allegedly assaulted earlier in the campaign but continued working despite the intimidation.

On January 14, a day before polling, Ingrid claimed that her agents were attacked while being deployed. Among them was Amos Karamuzi, also known as Okello, who she said was beaten unconscious and later rescued by a Good Samaritan and taken to hospital.

Another supporter, Boaz Kamusiime, who was riding in Ingrid’s official vehicle, was allegedly attacked by suspected goons, forcibly removed from the car, beaten, and the vehicle later abandoned near Kinyasano Girls Secondary School.

She further alleged that several of her campaign vehicles were vandalized, with windscreens and headlights smashed, and number plates removed. She said police were informed and asked to inspect the scenes before the vehicles were moved.

Ingrid accused Gen. Tumukunde of allegedly hiring over 100 goons from outside the district to intimidate her supporters during the election period.

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Several individuals who claim to have been assaulted shared their experiences.

Amos Karamuzi (Okello) said he was attacked around 9:00pm while returning from collecting agent appointment letters from Ingrid’s residence.

Boaz Kamusiime alleged that he was beaten by a group of people who blocked their vehicle from both the front and back. He claimed a bullet was fired into the car window, and items including agent appointment letters, money, and ATM cards were stolen.

Dickson Ahumumuza, a resident of Kabwire in Rukungiri Municipality, said that on January 14, he and Okello were assaulted and later taken to an area near JD Paramount Hotel, where an unidentified assailant allegedly placed a pistol in his mouth and threatened to shoot him before being stopped by another person.

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Wilfred Karamira reported that on January 15 at around 7:00pm, he was chased and attacked while carrying declaration forms for Ingrid Kamateneti. He said he drove to the police station seeking protection, but was allegedly beaten even at the station, where attackers took all items from his vehicle, including declaration forms for both Ingrid and Robert Kyagulanyi, the presidential candidate.

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Addressing the media after being declared winner, Gen. Henry Tumukunde thanked voters for their support, acknowledging the challenges of campaigning in Rukungiri.

He called on residents to maintain peace, saying there is much work ahead for the development of the municipality.

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By press time, Rukungiri Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Bron Kikanshemeza said he had not yet received any formal reports regarding the alleged incidents of violence.

Meanwhile, Ingrid said consultations are ongoing and that she will soon announce the next course of action, reiterating her warning