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Annet Katusiime Mugisha speaking to the people of Mitwazo village in Bumbaire Sub-county
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Bushenyi
With less than two weeks until the nomination of Members of Parliament, allegations of voter bribery have emerged in Bushenyi District. Supporters of Vianah Kemigisha Kashaya, alias "Nyamunyonyi," the closest rival to incumbent MP Annet Katusiime Mugisha, claim the legislator has been distributing money during her ongoing village-level meetings. According to reports from the sub-counties of Kakanju, Ibaare, and Bumbaire, as well as Nyakabirizi Division in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, attendees at each gathering allegedly receive Shs500,000, a bottle of soda, and a bun.
Annet during different village meetings
Accompanied by her husband, Eng. Dr. Silver Mugisha, the Managing Director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, MP Annet Katusiime Mugisha has reportedly been giving voters small handouts to win their support.
Speaking to our reporter, Vianah Kemigisha claimed that her supporters have been intimidated by her opponent's camp on several occasions. "Most of my supporters have been silenced with money. I wonder where they get all this money to buy off almost everyone," Vianah said. She further alleged that "some of my supporters are being paid to appear on camera and publicly denounce me."
Katusiime and her husband Silver
"In 2020, during her previous campaign, Annet Katusiime Mugisha and her husband promised the people of Bushenyi "heaven and earth," but have since failed to fulfill many of those pledges. The Bamugisha Community Welfare Initiative, which they founded, was established to fight poverty through social welfare and poverty reduction programs. Its work includes supporting education, promoting savings groups, improving household income, and empowering women and youth through community projects," one youth leader who preffered anonymity was quoted saying.
However, some other residents claim that most of the promised activities under the initiative have since stalled.
Efforts to get a comment from MP Annet Katusiime Mugisha or her campaign team were unsuccessful by press time.
Torch Media Africa
