BUSHENYI
Residents of Rwenjojo Village in Kakoni Parish, Kyamuhunga Sub-county, Bushenyi District, on Saturday staged a protest after one of the candidates for the Local Council I (LC1) chairperson seat was declared the winner despite elections reportedly not taking place in the village.
Carrying placards, the residents marched to the Kyamuhunga Sub-county headquarters, demanding an explanation as to how a winner was announced when no voting had taken place.
Election Abandoned After Chaos
On Tuesday, villages across Uganda went to the polls to elect Local Council I (LC1) chairpersons.
However, the election in Rwenjojo Village was abandoned after violence erupted during a contest between National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Ham Ahimbisibwe and independent candidate Denis Nuwagira.
The chaos reportedly stemmed from disagreements over the voters' register, with some residents claiming that their names had been removed. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the rowdy crowd before election officials abandoned the exercise.
Residents said they were later shocked to learn that Ahimbisibwe had been declared the duly elected LC1 chairperson despite no voting having taken place.
Residents Cry Foul
Caleb Mugumya, a resident, alleged that the parish election supervisor, Jedson Ainebyoona, who is also Ahimbisibwe's son, connived with officials to have his father declared the winner.
"We did not vote because the election was abandoned after disagreements over the register. We were shocked to hear that a winner had been declared. We want the Electoral Commission to organise a fresh election so that the people can choose their leader," Mugumya said.
However, the allegations were dismissed by the area registrar, Mugisha, who denied any wrongdoing.
Another resident, Michael Mutsinguzi, claimed that although the village had 341 registered voters, only 241 names appeared on the voters' register on polling day.
"Many people who were expected to vote could not find their names in the register. Most of those affected were believed to be supporters of one candidate, which raised suspicion among residents," Mutsinguzi said.
LC3 Chairperson Questions Supervisor's Role
Kyamuhunga Sub-county LC3 Chairperson Adolf Kanyomozi said the local security committee had agreed that Ainebyoona should not supervise the election because his father was one of the contestants.
"As a security committee, we agreed that Mr Ainebyoona should not preside over the election because it was a clear conflict of interest. We were surprised to learn that he still participated in supervising the process involving his own father," Kanyomozi said.
Fresh Election Sought
Kyamuhunga Sub-county Chief Elly Muhwezi said the matter would be referred to the Electoral Commission for guidance.
"We have received the residents' complaints, and we shall forward the matter to the Electoral Commission. If it is established that no election was conducted, the appropriate action will be taken, including organising a fresh poll," Muhwezi said.
By press time, the Electoral Commission had not issued an official statement regarding the matter.
