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Legislators

Battle Lines Drawn in Mbale City Woman MP Race as Incumbent Connie Galiwango Contests Independently

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries in Mbale City have led to a contentious showdown between Lydia Wanyoto Mutende, the winner of the NRM flag, and incumbent Connie Galiwango, who is running as an independent candidate. Galiwango, a two-term Woman MP for Mbale District, had earlier declined to participate in the NRM primaries, citing allegations of favoritism towards Wanyoto, who is also the chairperson of the women's league. Wanyoto has consistently denied these allegations.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lydia Wanyoto Mutende won the NRM flag with 52,299 votes, exceeding her closest contender, Sarah Wasagali, who received 14,601 votes, and Rita Namuwenge, who got 8,775 votes.
  • Connie Galiwango, the incumbent Woman MP for Mbale City, is contesting independently after declining to participate in the NRM primaries due to allegations of favoritism.
  • Galiwango had earlier served as Woman MP for Mbale District for two terms before contesting as an independent candidate in the 2021 general election and winning with 40,729 votes.
  • Mbale City has a fluid demographic profile, with young voters, old voters, urban populations, and peri-locals, making the 2026 race unpredictable and challenging.
  • The comeback of Galiwango into the race complicates Wanyoto's chances of going to parliament, making the opposition in the city still strong due to NRM leadership divisions.

Statistics:

  • 40,729 votes: Connie Galiwango's winning votes in the 2021 general election.
  • 25,276 votes: Lydia Wanyoto Mutende's votes in the 2021 election.
  • 52,299 votes: Lydia Wanyoto Mutende's winning votes in the NRM primaries.
  • 14,601 votes: Sarah Wasagali's votes in the NRM primaries.
  • 8,775 votes: Rita Namuwenge's votes in the NRM primaries.
  • 21,575 votes: Hudu Hussein's votes in the NRM primaries.
  • 22,166 votes: Umar Nangoli's votes in the NRM primaries.
  • 24,017 votes: John Wekesa Wambongo's votes in the NRM primaries.
  • 8,287 votes: Joel Mafabi Lulaba's votes in the NRM primaries.
  • 14,936 votes: Ismail Mukakadi's votes in the NRM primaries.

Sources:

  • Galiwango, Connie. "I have my reasons for not returning to the primaries-not as a rebel, but peace maker."
  • Wanyoto, Lydia. "I won in all 12 sub-counties that make up Mbale City. I am the people's candidate for this community."
  • Wasagali, Sarah. "For me, I consider myself the people's flag bearer. I am disappointed with NRM officers in Mbale for taking sides."
  • Gimei, Mr. Clyan. "Mbale City has young voters, who are easily swayed by any sensation, the old voters, who are a little analytical in making their voting decisions, the pure urban population that is fairly informed on the political trends in the country and the peri-locals, who are relatively less informed."
  • Magona, Julius. "Wanyoto's chances to go to Parliament had risen because people heard reports that Galiwango was out. Now that she is still in, it complicates matters and Wanyoto and NRM as a party have some work to do."
  • "NRM Primaries: Wanyoto Wins in Mbale City." New Vision, 2023.
  • "Mbale City: Where Did the Votes Go?" Daily Monitor, 2021.

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