The Kisoro by-election has provided valuable lessons for both the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and opposition parties. Independent candidate Grace Akifeza Ngabirano’s narrow victory over NRM’s Rose Kabagyeni, with 50,459 votes to 44,982, signals a significant setback for the NRM.
LESSONS FOR OPPOSITION PARTIES
Opposition parties like PPP, NUP, FDC, and UPC must prioritize membership mobilization and registration. Their poor performance, with a combined total of 1,615 votes (1.6%), indicates a lack of preparedness. The PPP candidate’s failure to appear for a televised debate highlights this unpreparedness.
NRM’S INTERNAL ISSUES
The NRM’s chaotic primaries led to division within the party. Claims of rigging and unfairness marred the process. The party’s failure to endorse Akifeza after her loss in the primaries led to her running as an independent, ultimately costing the NRM the seat.
THE MATEKE FACTOR
Mzee Mateke, the NRM district chairman, was expected to support his late daughter’s rival, Kabagyeni. However, their past rivalry and perceived ignoring of Mateke by party bosses contributed to the fallout.
RELIGION AND DEMOGRAPHICS
The NRM’s historical branding of opposition parties as Catholic or Protestant has come back to haunt them. Kabagyeni, likely a Catholic, faced problems due to demographics the NRM claimed to have destroyed.
ELECTORAL COMMISSION’S ROLE
The Electoral Commission must review laws regarding independent candidates’ use of party symbols, colors, and slogans. Akifeza’s prominent display of NRM colors during the campaign raises concerns.
The Kisoro by-election serves as a wake-up call for both the NRM and opposition parties. It highlights the importance of membership mobilization, internal party cohesion, and adherence to multiparty politics principles. Will these lessons be heeded, or will history repeat itself?
The Author is a political activist
