Supporters of Naome Kabasharira have resumed massive protests in Rushenyi County protesting against NRM electoral commission’s decision to announce her rival Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana as legitimate winner of Rushenyi primary elections.
The angry residents piled heaps of bricks, stones and logs in the roads and lit bonfires blocking movement of vehicles in the county.
The furious protesters cut off Kabale- Mbarara Highway.
Police deployed heavily in Rushenyi and other towns in Ntungamo as riots spread across the district.
Police has deployed heavily in the area and also warned Naome Kabasharira against fuelling the protests.
The NRM returning officer had previously declared Kabasharira the winner of Rushenyi before EC boss Tanga Odoi overturned the result and in a surprising shift of events, Tanga announced Tuesday that the Minister was leading in a vote recount.
He said he would declare the legitimate winner on Friday (today).
In what has been perceived as preempting Rukutana’s win, Kabasharira’s fans woke up in protests.
The riots began from Rubaare town as early as 7am and spread across like wildfire.
Rubaare is considered Rukutana’s stronghold.
The Ntungamo election violence is legendary, it has in the recent past it resulted into 11-day imprisonment of Minister Rukutana who was accused of orchestrating chaos and injuring FDC member Dan Rweiburingi who was backing Kabasharira.
By press time Mr Tanga Odoi was yet to announce Rukutana as Rushenyi NRM flagbearer.
