Independent candidate Tukundane Casbart has firmly refuted claims that he has withdrawn from the Parliamentary race for Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, calling the allegations “propaganda and malice” intended to mislead voters and undermine his campaign.
The rumours circulated widely after businessman and Bushenyi District NRM Chairperson, Hassan Basajjabalaba, reportedly announced at President Museveni’s rally in Bushenyi that Casbart had stepped down in favour of the NRM flag-bearer.
Casbart, however, has insisted that he is still in the contest and fully committed to seeing the race through to Election Day. He said the alleged withdrawal announcement was false and deliberately crafted to confuse the electorate at a critical moment in the campaign.
According to him, no individual or group has the authority to declare his withdrawal, and any such statements should be disregarded by the public.The independent candidate accused Basajjabalaba of using the President’s rally to spread the misinformation, describing the move as an attempt to tilt the political ground in favour of his preferred candidate, Iddi Bassaja, who is Basajjabalaba’s son.
Casbart argued that such tactics reflect a growing panic among his opponents due to his rising popularity in the municipality.He called on his supporters to remain calm, focused, and vigilant against false reports designed to weaken his support base.
Casbart emphasized that his campaign continues uninterrupted and that he remains confident in the strength and determination of the electorate to choose a leader based on merit rather than political pressure or manipulation.
As the race intensifies, the incident has sparked renewed debate about political fairness, influence, and the lengths to which some actors may go to sway public opinion. Casbart reaffirmed his commitment to running a clean and issues-based campaign, urging voters to stand firm and reject any attempts to distort the democratic process.