The Electoral Commission has set November 14, as the date for the Kisoro Woman MP by-election. The seat fell vacant after the death of Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, the State Minister for Defense and Veteran Affairs who died on September 7, after suffering a heart attack.
On Thursday, the Electoral Commission Chairperson Simon Byabakama held a meeting at Saza grounds in Kisoro municipality. During the meeting, Byabakama said that the electoral process will commence with the update of the National Voters’ Register from 27 September to 1 October.
Byabakama also says that the commission has set Tuesday 1st October as the deadline for applying for registration as a voter and for transfer of voting location in the district.
The display of the Voters’ Register will run from 14 to 23 October at all the 322 polling stations in the district. The Display of Parish Tribunal Recommendations for deletion from/or inclusion on the Register will be conducted from October 23-28 followed by the nomination of candidates on October 30-31.
The campaigns will run for only 12 days from November 1-12. Byabakama also says that the commission will also use the same period to conduct the election of councillors representing Special Interest Groups on November 11.
Byabakama urged interested candidates to abide by the laws.
After the death of Nyirabashitsi, some political leaders in the district led by Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu, Bukimbiri County MP and John Ninzeyimana Kamara, Bufumbira North MP fronted her sister Ruth Nyiraneza to replace her.
So far more than 10 people have shown interest in the seat. Among them is Rose Kabagyenyi, whom Nyirabashitsi defeated in the 2021 general elections.
Kabagyenyi has already picked nomination forms from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.