A cross section of candidates for the position of local council one chairperson has threatened to petition the office of the district returning officer citing irregularities in the election process.
The candidates include Mr. Samson Mutahunga, the NRM flagbearer for Mumbuzi cell in Kasese Municipality, who boycotted the election exercise arguing that it had been marred with voter bribery, intimidation of his supporters and the manipulation of the voter register.
Despite his boycott, the election went on with FDC’s Annet Mbambu Kule getting a total of 327 votes and was thus declared the winner of the poll. In Basecamp Lower Cell of Central Division in Kasese Municipality, Mr Yofesi Kule Bitakuma, also rejected the election outcome after allegedly losing the seat to incumbent chairperson Mr Jaffali Hatima Kigutia of the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC.
Kigutia was declared winner of the polls after garnering 494 beating Yofesi Kule Bitakuma (NRM) who got 72 votes and NUP’s Nason Butseme distant third with 04 votes. According to Bitakuma of the NRM, the integrity of the election was compromised allegedly by ferrying voters from other areas. He said he would consult his party on the next course of action.
However, Kigutia who is also the incumbent chairperson, debunks this assertion and instead attributes his victory to his hard work characterized by indiscriminative service to the people of Basecamp.
In Kahendero Station Cell of Muhokya Town Council, FDC’s Leosio Mukirania, also claimed that he had been rigged because unregistered were allegedly allowed to vote.
In Kanyatsi Parish, Kyondo Sub-county, FDC candidates Mr. Alex Mitsibira and Mr. Christopher Kasule refused to sign the declaration forms for Kasithu and Kaghorwe villages alleging that NRM agents allowed underage persons to vote.
ENDS.