The Electoral Commission has denominated Arnold Ankunda Best, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) candidate in the race for the Isingiro North County parliamentary seat.
In a letter signed by the EC chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, the commission found out that Ankunda had nine valid supporters out of the required 10 to support his nomination, contrary to section 28 (1) (c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act Cap. 177, thus rendering the nomination invalid.
The disqualification of Ankunda from the race leaves the incumbent Member of Parliament and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidate, Bright Rwamirama, who serves as the Minister of State for Animal Industry, with only one competitor, Anthony Rutahwire of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT).
Mr Ankunda’s denomination follows a complaint filed by Edgar Agaba and Stella Naiga, registered voters in Masha Sub-county, Isingiro North County, accusing him of using their names and signatures to sign and support his nomination.
Justice Byabakama said the commission deliberated over the issues raised by the complainants, together with their lawyers’ submissions, the response and submissions of the respondent and his lawyer, and observed that the Petitioners appeared before the Commission and denied signing, endorsing, or writing their names on the respondent’s nomination form.
‘In view of the foregoing, the Commission, under MIN. COMP. 048/2025, resolved that given the stated invalidity, the Respondent’s nomination is annulled, and the decision of the Returning Officer, the lsingiro Electoral District, in nominating Ankunda is hereby quashed.
He said that during the cross-examination of Ms Naiga, she did not appear to be a credible witness, but also the submitted evidence by Ankunda of the phone conversation between himself and Edgar Agaba was not verified, hence the Commission could not rely on it.
Stanley Katembeya, the Ankole region PFF Coordinator, said Ankunda’s denomination is no surprise to him, noting that the Electoral Commission is being used to allow the National Resistance Movement elders to go through unopposed.
Mr Anthony Rutahwire of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) described the disqualification of Ankunda as unfortunate, but said it gives him more chances to defeat Mr Rwamirama on January 15, 2026.
Mr Samuel Baguma, a voter in Nyarubungo Ward, said Ankunda’s disqualification is not a surprise, noting that some senior NRM members in the district have long been associated with such political schemes.
Mr Alex Turyamwijuka, also a resident, said from the petition, all this was expected, stating that politics of the area have been characterised by ‘force, intimidation, and bribery.’
This reporter couldn’t get Akunda for a comment as his known mobile phone numbers were not going through.
Earlier, other contenders, James Atwiine King was disqualified from the race by the Electoral Commission for lack of academic documents.
Atwiine lost to Rwamirama in the NRM party primaries and had chosen to contest as an Independent candidate.
The other candidate, Kassim Kagwisagye of the Democratic Party withdraw from the race after reaching a mutual agreement with Mr Rwamirama.