By KT Reporter
A legal battle is unfolding in Nakaseke Central Constituency following the rejection of the results of the Parliamentary election by incumbent legislator Allan Mayanja Ssebunya.
On Friday, the Nakaseke District Returning Officer Aidah Tusiime declared Joseph Kabuye Kyofatogabye the State minister for Kampala Metropolitan Affairs as the winner for Nakaseke Central MP seat. Kyofatogabye scored 13678 votes defeating incumbent MP Allan Mayanja Ssebunya (NUP) who got 8178 votes.
However, MP Ssebunya has rejected the election results citing what he said massive rigging through alteration results on declaration forms, bribery, intimidation and arresting his agents to conduct ballot staffing.
Ssebunya has listed 30 polling stations where the elections results were altered in favour of Kyofatogabye before granting him a win.
Ssebunya cited Ntaate polling station in Kiwoko town council where he initially scored 80 votes and Kyofatogabye got 89 but this was altered to award the winner 189 votes.
Ssebunya adds that at Mildcare parents’ school primary Kyanya polling station, he scored 132 votes and Kyofatogabye got 205 but after alteration of results the winner was given 305 votes.
He further says at Butalangu polling station, he scored 105 votes and Kyofatogabye scored 112 votes but results were altered to grant the winner 530 votes. Ssebunya’s 105 votes were reduced to 20 votes.
Ssebunya said that Public School primary School Buswagiro polling station, where he got 83 votes, only nine votes were captured at tally sheet and Kyofatogabye’s 145 votes increased to 410 votes.
At Masgid Taqwa Nakonge polling station, Kyofatogabye scored 88 votes but was awarded 250 votes and Mayanja 54 votes reduced to 10 votes.
Ssebunya also cited an incident at Ntarajji polling station where he voted from and scored 166 votes and Kyofatogabye got 91 votes but was awarded 260 votes at final tally sheet.
Ssebunya cited other cases at polling stations in Butalangu, Wakyato and Kikamulo sub counties where results were altered in favour of Kyofotagabye. Ssebunya said that he tried to challenge the declaration of results at Tally center after identifying irregularities from results by Returning Officer Aidah Tusiime and his declaration forms but he was ignored.
Ssebunya also revealed that in some polling stations, the agents were chased away, voting materials destroyed to aide the rigging and others results were not added at final tally. Ssebunya said that after obtaining the tally sheet from Returning Officer, which clearly indicate disparities between results on declaration forms and those announced, he is consulting with his advocates to challenge the results in court.
On Sunday, Kyofatogabye denied reports of vote rigging and said he was ready to defend his win in court.
For now, Nakaseke Central stands at a crossroads, caught between legal battles yet to come and a fragile peace that residents hope will hold.
Following the announcement of Kyofatogabye as the winner of the race, protests erupted in Kiwoko town council, leaving a trail of destruction on kiosks, electricity transformers and poles, among others. Anger erupted almost immediately, and supporters of the losing candidate poured onto the streets, accusing electoral officials of rigging the vote. What began as a protest quickly descended into violence. At the arch erected for MP-elect Kyofatogabye, flames licked at the timber as protesters attempted to set it ablaze.
Nearby chapati kiosks, which are a source of livelihoods for small traders, were torn apart and used as fuel.
Atleast 45 supporters of MP Ssebunya has since been detained in the protests.
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