The Electoral Commission has declared the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Aidah Nabayiga, the winner of the Kalangala District Woman MP by-election.

Kalangala District returning officer Ronald Agaba declared Nabayiga elected at around 2:53 am on Thursday after she garnered 12,642 votes, defeating her closest challenger, Irene Nampala of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who polled 7,474 votes.

Independent candidate Sarah Babirye secured 244 votes, Hellen Flavia Nagawa received 217 votes, while Agnes Nassuna finished last with 34 votes. The results were declared from 21,038 valid votes cast across 115 polling stations in the island district. A total of 427 ballots were rejected as invalid, while 67 ballot papers were spoilt.

Electoral Commission chairperson Simon Mugenyi Byabakama commended candidates, their supporters and voters for conducting themselves peacefully throughout the campaign period and on polling day.

He said the commission did not register any major incidents during the election and praised all stakeholders for demonstrating restraint before, during and after the vote.

Nabayiga returns to Parliament after losing the Kalangala Woman MP seat in the 2021 general election. She had previously represented the district for one term. Her successor, NUP’s Helen Nakimuli, died before she could be sworn in, prompting the by-election.

Speaking shortly after being declared the winner, Nabayiga pledged to promote unity among the people of Kalangala, strengthen the NRM’s structures in the district and revive stalled public service projects.

However, before the final declaration of results, Nampala and her campaign team disputed the outcome, alleging irregularities in the tallying process. Nampala claimed that her polling agents were chased away by security personnel at some polling stations before declaration of results forms were allegedly altered and submitted to the district tally centre.

She further alleged that in parts of Kyamuswa County, the number of ballots counted exceeded the number of registered voters on the Electoral Commission register, which she said pointed to electoral malpractice.

Nampala said her complaints were not adequately addressed by the returning officer and added that her team had gathered evidence to determine its next course of action.

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