BY: Muhabuzi Ateireho,James Muhumuza, Vincent Kirabo, Samuel Tumwesige and Bahati Johnbosco
KAGADI
Local Council One (LC I) chairperson elections in several parts of Kagadi District were on Tuesday disrupted by violence, disagreements over voter eligibility, allegations of electoral irregularities and errors in voters’ registers.
Although voting was completed peacefully in many villages, the Electoral Commission postponed or cancelled elections in some areas after disputes and violence affected the exercise.
A mini-survey conducted by our reporters found that polling in parts of Kagadi Town Council was interrupted by disagreements over voter eligibility, allegations of voter bribery and confrontations between supporters of rival candidates.
The affected areas included Muhumbu, Kagadi Taxi Park, Nankurabye, Ikuma and Mambugu cells, where Electoral Commission officials and security personnel intervened to restore calm.
In Mambugu Cell, one person was arrested after allegedly being found with fake voter allocation slips. Authorities had not released the suspect’s identity or provided further details by press time.
The election in the area was later postponed.
In Nankurabye Cell, NRM flag bearer Harriet Nyakato and her supporters reportedly boycotted the voting process and later challenged the outcome after independent candidate George Kibirango was declared winner with 138 votes.
Village Registrar Bagonza Fahad said he had submitted the election materials to the Electoral Commission and that the matter was now under the Commission’s consideration.
In Muhumbu Cell, Kagadi-based businessman Julius Nsubuga, an independent candidate, won the LC I chairperson seat after polling 345 votes.
The election was conducted under tight security at Bunyoro College Secondary School.
However, NRM incumbent Andrew Kisembo and NUP candidate Florence reportedly boycotted the election, citing alleged irregularities.
Kisembo has petitioned the Kagadi District Electoral Commission Registrar, demanding a fresh election. He alleges that some of Nsubuga’s supporters were not residents of Muhumbu Cell.
Nsubuga thanked residents for electing him and pledged to serve the people of Muhumbu Cell diligently.
Meanwhile, NRM candidate Deogratious Byaruhanga won the Kagadi Taxi Park Cell LC I chairperson race with 125 votes. Independent candidate Mpoza Stephen received three votes, while Kusiima Vincent polled 72 votes.
In Namilyango Cell, incumbent John Baptist Kisembo was declared unopposed after his competitor, Bosco Kanaabe, withdrew from the race during the voting process.
Other provisional results from Kagadi Town Council showed that Joseph Sunday won the Kibanga Cell LC I chairperson race after polling 90 votes, while Edward Asiimwe won the Pida Ikuma Cell seat with 138 votes.
Unregistered Residents Cause Tension in Rutete
In Rutete Town Council and Rutete Sub-county, voting was briefly disrupted after unregistered residents attempted to participate in the elections.
The incidents were reported in Rutete East and Kinyarwanda Trading Centre, where some residents turned up at polling centres and demanded to vote, arguing that they were indigenous members of the affected villages.
The disagreement led to heated exchanges, prompting the Electoral Supervisor for Rutete Town Council to call in police officers to restore order.
Electoral officials later explained that only people whose names appeared on the voters’ register were eligible to participate, regardless of whether they were indigenous residents of the village.
The situation later calmed down, allowing voting to continue.
Independent candidate Tadeo Kitone won the Rutete East LC I chairperson seat with 98 votes, defeating incumbent and NRM flag bearer Efraimu Tumuhimbise.
In Rutete West, NRM candidate Milton Ndyareba won with 142 votes, defeating Behangana James, who received 36 votes.
Independent candidate Willy Amutuhaire won the Nyakabingo Village race with 35 votes, defeating incumbent and NRM flag bearer Cyrus Twinoomugisa.
Enos Tugume was elected unopposed as the LC I chairperson for Rutete Central.
The newly elected leaders pledged to promote development and improve service delivery in their respective communities.
Some residents urged the new leaders to prioritize the fight against corruption and immediately begin addressing community concerns.
Violence Reported in Rugashali
In Rugashali Town Council, voting was temporarily disrupted by violence after residents accused Electoral Commission officials of issuing voter cards to non-residents.
The situation reportedly escalated after a registered voter who had temporarily left the polling station was denied re-entry by a police officer attached to Rugashali Police Post.
The voter allegedly attacked the officer, prompting the officer to fire live bullets into the air to disperse an angry crowd.
Calm was later restored following the intervention of Electoral Commission officials from Kagadi District headquarters.
Polling resumed, and independent incumbent Paul Nfitimukiza was re-elected after defeating NRM flag bearer Kurunel Isingoma.
However, Isingoma and some of his supporters refused to participate in the voting process, alleging that Nfitimukiza had connived with the village registrar to include non-residents, particularly bar attendants, on the voters’ register.
According to the declared results, Nfitimukiza received 264 votes.
Isingoma rejected the results and said he would petition higher authorities for a fresh election, insisting that he would only accept the outcome of a free and fair process.
Nfitimukiza thanked residents for renewing their trust in him and pledged to promote development and wealth creation in the area.
More Than 670 Voters Miss Polling in Muhorro
Voting at Muhorro Town Church Polling Station in Muhorro Town Council was cancelled after disagreements over the voters’ register left more than 670 registered voters unable to cast their ballots.
Voters and candidates accused election officials of using a flawed register, alleging that some voters had been transferred to Muhorro Muslim Polling Station without their knowledge.
The dispute sparked protests and prompted police intervention. However, the matter remained unresolved, forcing electoral officials to halt the voting exercise pending further guidance.
Some candidates also alleged that the register contained names of people who were not residents of the polling area.
The polling supervisor said the Electoral Commission would organize fresh elections after correcting the errors in the voters’ register.
Meanwhile, police are searching for Tumusiime Wicklif, an LC I candidate in Kyarusa Cell, who allegedly destroyed declaration of results forms after failing to secure any votes.
At Nyamanga Polling Station, NRM candidate Kisembo Mukonyezi Asuman won with 226 votes, while NUP candidate Ajuna Adolf received six votes.
At Kihereza Polling Station, independent candidate Omuhereza Kitara Mugisa won with 232 votes, defeating Byaruhanga Kaija, who polled 208 votes.
Electoral Commission Says Most Elections Were Peaceful
Kagadi District Electoral Commission Registrar Mercy Ataho said the elections were generally peaceful despite disruptions reported in several areas.
She said elections were postponed in Mambugu Cell in Kagadi Town Council, Kanyegaramire Cell in Kyenzige Town Council, Kanyabebe LC I in Kanyabebe Sub-county, as well as Kasoga Trading Centre and Nyambeho Village in Muhorro Sub-county following violence and other disruptions.
The Electoral Commission is expected to provide guidance on the affected areas and announce dates for fresh elections.
The News Editor ,Reporter at Kagadi Kibaale community Radio
