Voting is underway at all 280 polling stations in the 16 subcounties that make up Rukungiri District. The district has 177,086 registered voters.
At some polling stations, voting in the Woman MP by-election commenced as early as 7:00am. Electoral commission begun dispatching polling materials yesterday, and to the subcounties near the Rukungiri town, dispatch begun by 4:00am to ensure smothness of the process.
However, voting at Rukungiri Stdium polling station begun later as materials arrived late. Security has also been heightened with several road blocks mounted at entry and exit points of the district.
Tough competition for the seat is between NRM candidate Winifred Matsiko, and FDC’s Betty Muzanira. Matsiko lost the seat which she had won during 2016 general elections, in a court of appeal verdict.
Other candidates in the race are; Fabith Kukundakwe of PPP and Prisca Sezi Mbaguta, an independent.
President Museveni earlier this week camped in the district for two days, canvassing votes for Matsiko, while the FDC brigade led by Col. Kiiza Besigye, Gen. Mugisha Muntu, Hon. Patrick Amuriat Oboi, Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi, Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, and Ingrid Turinawe, among other party stalwarts were in the area campaigning for Muzanira.
The citizens coalition for electoral development, CCEDU has deployed 27 observers to monitor the process.