Byabakama Disqualifies PFF Candidate from Isingiro North Race

The Electoral Commission has denominated Arnold Ankunda Best the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) candidate in the race to represent the electorates of Isingiro North County to Parliament.

In the letter signed by Justice Byabakama, the Commission also found out that Ankunda had nine valid supporters out of the required ten (10) to support his nomination contrary to section28 (1) (c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act Cap. 177, thus rendering the nomination invalid.

The disqualification of Ankunda from the race leaves Bright Rwamirama, the incumbent Member of Parliament and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidate flag bearer, with only one competitor, Anthony Rutahwire of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT).

Ankunda’s denomination follows a complaint filed by Edgar Agaba and Stella Naiga, registered voters in Masha Sub-County, Isingiro North County, accusing Ankunda of using their names and signatures to sign and support his nomination.

The Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, said the commission deliberated over the issues raised by the complainants, together with their lawyers’ submissions, the response and submissions of the respondent and his lawyer, and observed that the Petitioners appeared before the Commission and denied signing, endorsing, or writing their names on the respondent’s nomination form.

“In view of the foregoing, the Commission, under MIN. COMP. 048/2025, resolved that given the stated invalidity, the Respondent’s nomination is annulled, and the decision of the Returning Officer, the lsingiro Electoral District, in nominating Ankunda is hereby quashed.

He says that during the cross-examination of the second petitioner, Stella Naiga, she did not appear to be a credible witness, but also the submitted evidence by Ankunda of the phone conversation between himself and Edgar Agaba, the first Petitioner was not verified, hence the Commission could not rely on it.

Stanley Katembeya, the Ankole region PFF Coordinator, says Ankunda’s denomination is no surprise to him, noting that the Electoral Commission is being used to allow the National Resistance Movement elders cruise through unopposed.

Anthony Rutahwire of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) describes the disqualification of Ankunda as unfortunate, but says it gives him more chances to defeat Hon Rwamirama come 15th January 2026.

Samuel Baguma, a voter in Nyarubungo Ward, says Ankunda’s disqualification is not a surprise, noting that the minister has long been related with such political schemes.

Alex Turyamwijuka, also a resident, says from the petition, all this was expected, stating that politics of the area have been characterized by “force, intimidation, and bribery. Our reporter couldn’t get Akunda for a comment as his known phones were not going through.

Earlier, other contenders, James Atwiine King was disqualified from the race by the Electoral Commission for lack of Academic documents.

Atwiine lost to Rwamirama in the NRM party primaries and had chosen to contest as an Independent candidate, the other candidate, Kassim Kagwisagye of the Democratic Party withdraw from the race after reaching a mutual agreement with the Hon Rwamirama