The parliamentary race for Samia Bugwe South has taken a twist after Independent candidate Mr Bwire Robert Ngwabe, who captured national attention last month when he arrived for nomination by helicopter, has withdrawn from the race, citing ‘poor health’ and ‘family pressure’.
Mr Ngwabe communicated his decision in a November 19 letter to Busia District Elections Administrator, Ms Joan Aduru, bringing an unexpected end to what had been one of the constituency’s most talked-about campaigns.
‘After extensive consultation with my family, medical advisors, close associates and due to pressing health-related concerns, I have deemed it necessary to step down from the race,’ his letter reads in part.
‘The demanding nature of parliamentary duties requires full physical and mental readiness and in my current condition, it would be irresponsible to continue.’
His withdrawal comes just days after the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) notified authorities of anomalies in the academic documents he submitted during nomination.
How the controversy unfolded
Shortly after the close of parliamentary nominations on October 24, Busia voter and lawyer Mr Victor Odwori petitioned Ms Aduru to verify the academic documents of all candidates for Samia Bugwe South, as permitted under Section 32 of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
Mr Odwori said his interest was specifically to ascertain whether Mr Ngwabe possessed the minimum academic qualifications required for election to Parliament, an A-Level certificate or its equivalent, as per Article 4, Chapter 177 of the law.
Initial scrutiny showed that Mr Ngwabe claimed to have sat for his O-Level and A-Level exams at Gulu High School in 1996 and 1998 respectively, under UNEB centre number U0015. However, Mr Odwori raised doubts about these records and wrote to UNEB on November 3 seeking clarification.
On November 10, UNEB Executive Director Mr Dan Odongo responded, indicating that the board had no record of any candidate named ‘Bwire Robert Ngwabe’ under the index numbers he submitted. Instead, they found a candidate named ‘Amone Fredrick Opwonye’, among other inconsistencies.
Mr Odwori told Monitor that the withdrawal over ‘health reasons’ was only intended to avoid public embarrassment.
‘Mr Ngwabe used fake academic documents for his nomination as MP aspirant for Samia Bugwe South Constituency, and his withdrawal on grounds of poor health is simply a cover-up,’ he said. ‘He is trying to escape an embarrassing situation.’
The chopper entry that set Busia buzzing
Mr Ngwabe got onto the national limelight when he arrived for nomination in Busia aboard a helicopter that flew him from Kajjansi Airstrip along Entebbe Road to Madibira Primary School playgrounds in the eastern border town.
Crowds gathered as he disembarked to board a waiting Land Cruiser that drove him to the nomination centre. His dramatic entrance dominated local talk and social media for days.
At his nomination, he declared himself ‘the man Busia District was missing’ and promised to ‘address leadership challenges, improve education and tackle household poverty.’ He later flew to Lumuli Primary School, where he pledged to construct a pit latrine.
Who remains in the race?
With Ngwabe stepping aside, five candidates remain:
Freddy Egesa Achoka (NUP)
Julius Maganda Wandera (NRM)
Justus Okumu (FDC)
Patrick Egesa (DP)
Godfrey Were Odero (Independent – incumbent)
Samia Bugwe South is one of Busia District’s four constituencies, alongside Samia Bugwe North, Samia Bugwe Central, and Busia Municipality.