Joint security deployments of Police and UPDF in Senge and Nansana, Wakiso, have fired tear gas, bullets, and arrested dozens in dispersing people disputing a village chairperson election. Police in Senge, Wakiso District, were forced to seek reinforcement from UPDF soldiers stationed at Kakiri Barracks on Thursday afternoon to contain protests sparked by a disputed Local Council I election.
Residents allege that officials conducted a sham election which declared Hassan Arineitwe winner. Residents allege that National Resistance Movement candidate Hassan Arineitwe was wrongly declared winner against incumbent Ronald Walakira, while claiming that police and Electoral Commission officials influenced the Tuesday poll.
The demonstrators carrying placards marched toward the local council offices but were intercepted by police, who had been tipped off about plans to proceed to Arineitwe’s business. Several who participated in the protest have been detained in Wakiso.
Jamil Kimese, one of the protestors, told URN that police and EC officials declared Arineitwe winner even though he got less than 200 votes to Walakira’s over 800. He said they mobilized to demand their victory, but the army and police have responded with force and arrested several protesters, who were allegedly peaceful.
“Police and army have arrested our colleagues and impounded our motorcycles. They did not even spare children or elderly people. Several people have been taken to Wakiso this afternoon. But we are not backing down. We will continue to demand the victory of our chairman Walakira,” Kimese said.
Resident Joseph Mukasa said the party doesn’t matter to them. Walakira understands their issues. He claimed Arineitwe doesn’t live in Senge but in Kasangati. Mukasa said they want the EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, to explain and organize another election, or there will be no peace.
Protests have also turned deadly in Nansana East II this evening over disputed Local Council I election results from Tuesday. Residents allege that security forces influenced the outcome. They claim NRM candidate Fridah Namukwaya received 212 votes while Asadu Kiwendo received 417 votes, yet Kiwendo was not declared the winner.
Namukwaya was instead purportedly declared with more than 673 votes, a tally the resident’s dispute. Asadu Kiwendo said he has lodged a petition with the Electoral Commission headquarters in both Kampala and Wakiso. He is awaiting a verdict on whether he will be declared the winner or whether a fresh election will be conducted.
Kiwendo claimed he secured a landslide victory but alleged that another candidate was suspiciously declared the winner.
Protesters with placards demanding Kiwendo’s victory were also broken up by police with teargas and bullets, arresting several people who are detained at Rubigi Police Station. Kampala Metropolitan spokesperson Rachel Kawala said by press time that police would state Thursday’s protests.
On Wednesday, the Electoral Commission (EC) announced fresh polling in 1,135 villages across Uganda after violence, destruction of election materials and disputes over voters’ registers disrupted the long-awaited Local Council One (LC1) elections held on Tuesday-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
