Security was heavily reinforced around polling stations across Mukono District on Tuesday as residents turned out to elect village chairpersons, with police, army personnel and prison officers working under the command of District Police Commander Nsabimana Joseph and head of operations ASP Dason Ngobi.
By mid-morning, voters had begun arriving at several centers. Officials followed a strict procedure: each person’s name was read aloud from the register before a ballot paper was issued.
In Kiwanga Lwanda and other villages including Kitega, Wantoni, Namumira, Ham Mukasa and Kikooza, voters were required to produce national identity cards before being allowed into the fenced voting areas. Those without identification were turned away.
Early results trickled in from several villages. At Bishop East Primary School in Mukono Hill, incumbent Ibra Kafeero of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) defeated Dickson Lukenge Nsabwa, son of the Bishop of Mukono. Nsabwa later contested the outcome. In Kiwanga Lwanda, Richard Kasirivu Lugolobi of the National Unity Platform (NUP) beat his NRM rival.
In Ham Mukasa village, Ssalongo Ronald Kiwanuka Tiiti scored a decisive victory with 320 votes, far ahead of Budde Nowa (NUP) on 49 and Isaac Mayombwe (NRM) on 15. James Luswata Peesa won in Maternity village, Muhammad Waswa Takwana of the NRM took Ggulu A, and Joachim Sendi led in Lweza.
Despite the orderly start in many places, some voters complained of disruptions. They accused sitting chairpersons and electoral officials of ferrying in outsiders and of shortages of ballot papers that delayed the process.
The most serious incident occurred in Bunakijja, Katosi Town Council, where residents had gathered at Bunakijja Church of Uganda Primary School to elect their village chairperson. The contest pitted the long-serving incumbent, who has held the position for 30 years, against Mugabo David, originally of the Democratic Party but now aligned with the NRM.
Electoral officials arrived around 10 am under tight security provided by plainclothes officers and Uganda Police. Voters were instructed to present identification before entering the roped-off voting zone. Tension rose when an unidentified youth seized the voters’ register and fled, prompting a sudden rush of people into the compound.
Officials then began counting supporters lined up for Haruna Lukomu. The tally rose rapidly: 10, 40, 73, 120 before the process collapsed. Vehicles that had brought some of the groups departed under the watch of a drone, and the scene descended into disorder marked by gunfire. Residents who had arrived in high spirits left nursing injuries and fleeing the sound of shots.
Haruna Lukomu later alleged that opponents had deliberately disrupted the exercise. He said the election ended in chaos with no results declared. Mugabo David, now campaigning under the NRM banner, said he was waiting for residents to choose the leader they prefer.
The incidents in Bunakijja stood in sharp contrast to the relatively calm voting reported in most other villages, underscoring both the high stakes of local leadership contests and the challenges of maintaining order under tight security-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
