By KT Reporter
Lwengo District Chairperson Ibrahim Kitatta has rejected the outcome of last week’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) parliamentary primaries for Bukoto West, citing widespread irregularities and interference by security personnel.
Kitatta lost to incumbent MP Muhammad Muyanja Ssentaayi, who was declared the winner by the NRM Electoral Commission after garnering 12,369 votes. Kitatta came second with 9,116 votes, while Lodovick Kwehangana trailed with 211.
However, Kitatta claims the results do not reflect the will of NRM supporters in the constituency. He alleges that the electoral process was marred by coordinated irregularities, including voter intimidation and violence, which he says were orchestrated with the support of individuals within security agencies.
Kitatta specifically accuses Lwengo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Immy Kateera of abusing her office by aiding electoral malpractice and intimidation in favour of the incumbent.
He further claims that several of his campaign agents and known supporters sustained injuries as a result of targeted attacks during the election period, and has called on the NRM Electoral Commission to take disciplinary action against implicated security officers.
Despite the alleged irregularities, Kitatta says he is reluctant to file a formal petition with the party’s elections tribunal, citing delays in the resolution process. Instead, he is consulting with his supporters on the next steps.
In response, MP Muyanja Ssentaayi dismissed Kitatta’s claims as baseless and likened them to “kicks of a dying horse.” He said voters exercised their mandate freely and urged his opponents to set aside personal grievances and rally behind the party ahead of the 2026 general elections.
RDC Immy Kateera declined to comment on the allegations. Concerns over electoral violence in Lwengo come amid wider criticism of the NRM primary process. President Yoweri Museveni, the NRM national chairperson, has since directed the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) to investigate reports of irregularities across various districts.
A recent report by the Uganda National NGO Forum and Community Transformation Network (COTFONE) shows that violence and intimidation continue to undermine electoral participation in Lwengo. The April 2025 assessment revealed that 47% of respondents did not vote in the previous general election due to fear or lack of trust in the process.
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