AKIFEZA SMASHES KABAGYENI IN KISORO WOMAN MP BY-ELECTION BLOWOUT

In a spectacular showdown, Independent candidate Grace Akifeza Ngabirano has emerged victorious in the highly anticipated Kisoro Woman MP by-election, leaving her competitors trailing far behind. The jubilant announcement was made early Friday morning at exactly 1:44 AM by Daniel Nayebare, Kisoro District’s Returning Officer, who confirmed that Akifeza had clinched a commanding 50,459 votes—trouncing her nearest rival, Rose Kabagyeni of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), who managed 44,982 votes. With a victory margin of 5,476 votes, Akifeza delivered a decisive blow, securing her place as the new political force in Kisoro. While Akifeza's triumph was a clear fan favorite, the other candidates could only watch as the results unfolded. Kabagyeni, the NRM flag bearer, was left to pick up the pieces, falling short in a contest that many had expected to be a much tighter race. Meanwhile, Sultana Salim Tana of the National Unity Platform (NUP) scraped together 903 votes, a far cry from the top two. Meble Ingabire from the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) limped home with 362 votes, while Juliet Musanase of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Najjanankumbi faction and Aisha Chimpaye of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) finished with even fewer—193 and 157 votes, respectively. The results came as no surprise to many political observers, who had pegged Akifeza as the frontrunner, thanks to her strong grassroots support and energetic campaign. As celebrations erupted across Kisoro, it’s clear that Akifeza’s victory is not just a personal triumph but a clear message to the region: change is here, and it’s come with a bang.