Why Ankole, Kigezi Rejected FDC Party.

(From New Vision (Uganda) - AAGM)

Byline: Raymond Baguma

LAST week's presidential and parliamentary elections saw President Yoweri Museveni and the NRM sweep all the constituencies in Ankole and Kigezi. This was a huge setback to the opposition, especially the FDC.

One of the reasons that put FDC leader Col. Kizza Besigye above other party leaders is that he hails from the same region as President Museveni. Thus many believe that he stands better chances of getting a substantial number of votes from the western region compared to other opposition leaders, while at the same time he would be assured of votes from other regions that are opposition strongholds.

However, as the results of last week's polls show, the FDC performed far below expectations as the NRM scooped all the 33 seats of directly elected MPs in the 10 districts that comprise Ankole and Kigezi, while pro-NRM independents such as Tress Bucyanayandi (Bufumbira West) were also elected. On the other hand, FDC heavyweights and incumbent MPs Augustine Ruzindana (Ruhama), Jack Sabiiti (Rukiga) and John Kazoora (Kashari), and party officials Chapaa Karuhanga …