The Electoral Commission has disqualified Ankunda Best Arnold, a former Bishop Stuart University guild president, from the Isingiro North parliamentary race after ruling that his nomination papers were invalid.
Ankunda, who rose to public attention through student leadership at Bishop Stuart University, had declared his intention to challenge the long-serving Isingiro North Member of Parliament and State Minister for Animal Husbandry, Bright Rwamirama Kanyontore. However, the Commission found that his nomination did not meet the legal requirements, citing an insufficient number of verified supporter signatures.
According to the Commission, Ankunda submitted only nine verified voter signatures instead of the mandatory ten required for a parliamentary nomination. Electoral laws stipulate that all candidates must be endorsed by at least ten registered voters from the constituency for their nomination to be accepted.
The disqualification brings an abrupt end to Ankunda’s bid to transition from student leadership to national politics, a move that had attracted attention from young voters in the constituency.
With Ankunda out of the race, the Isingiro North parliamentary contest will now be between the incumbent, Bright Rwamirama Kanyontore, and Anthony Rutahwiire of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), as campaigns move into the next phase ahead of the elections.
