Voters in Kotido
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Several contestants are already out celebrating in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) LCV, Mayoral Primaries which were held around the country today.
Largely characterized by low voter turnout and scattered incidents of violence, the elections, which were conducted by the now popular style of lining behind one’s candidate, have been concluded successfully.
Participants that Habari Daily talked to raised concerns about the transparency and safety of the electoral process.
“There were many incidents of intimidation where some candidates engaged youths who preached disaster in case their candidates losses,” said Henry Ochora, a resident of Kalerwe.
Others described the process as full of manipulation, fear and panic. “Youth gangs known as Egaali, moved from one polling station to another in Wakiso disorganising and threatening voters,” said another voter who preferred anonymity.
Sanity was however restored through the intervention of security teams made up of the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
These were deployed to maintain order and respond swiftly to any incidents of violence.
No enthusiasm
Many voters our reporters talked to expressed wonder why voters did not show the same level of enthusiasm in the Mayor, LCV chairperson, and LCV councilor primaries as they did in the recent election for party parliamentary flag bearers.
“Mobilisation was not as intensive as it was during the parliamentary flag bearer’s race. Probably, many contestants placed all their faith in the locals who were in close proximity, since these are local elections,” said Nixon Amanya, a resident of Entebbe.
The other issue was late coming. Despite recent guidelines issued by the NRM party’s Election Commission Dr. Tanga Odoi, stating the elections would start at 9:00am, many poling stations in Kampala and suburbs were still non functional by 9:30am.
Winners have already emerged, and celebrations have already started. By the time we went to press, the following are the only contestants who have been announced as winners. We will be populating this list as results reach our newsroom.
LC V Chairpersons
- Prosper Twebaze – Bushenyi District
- Andrewson Katebire – Rukungiri
- Batwala Moses – Jinja
- Abibu Buga Khemis Awadi – Obongi District
- Peter Musinguzi – Bunyangabu
- Ruben Kimomen – Kabarole
- Samuel Mugisha Katugunda – Kazo
- Simon Ongura – Bukedea
- James Oruna Oyullu – Zombo District
Mayors
- Jackline Opar – Nebbi Municipality
- Fabrice Brad Rulinda – Entebbe
- Byarugaba Richard Nestor – Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality
- Kafureeka Jacob Jack Jex – Ntungamo Municipality.
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