The elections for the position of local council one chairperson have attracted a large voter turnout with enthusiastic residents embarking on voting for the political leader closest to them.
The election was largely peaceful although pockets of violence were registered in some parts of the district.
In Mumbuzi cell for example, gunshots were also fired to restore calm after tensions flared between supporters of the NRM’s Samson Mutahunga and Annet Mbambu of the FDC.
When enthusiastic supporters turned rowdy, police and military fired gunshots to prevail over the situation and return the situation to normalcy.
Mutahunga explained that part of that violence caused him to boycott the election.
In Kaghorwe village of Nyakinyumbu subcounty, NUP candidate Mr. Josephat Sunday Mudema said whereas the election had been largely peaceful, it was jotted with violence that happened on the night leading to the election day.
According to Mr. Mudema, one of his supporters named Sulait Monday was attacked by a camp of people belonging to his opponent causing him severe injury and admission at Bwera Hospital. He argues that that violence has compromised the integrity of the election.
In Ibanda-Kyanya Town Council, tempers also flared at Kyanya Central polling station after the presiding officer Mr Samson Bahithya announced that the FDC’s Yonah Kamalha Binyatsi had garnered more than 300 votes against NRM’s Zakiel Mithundira who had garnered 287 votes.
Bahithya was later to argue that he had announced Binyatsi erroneously explaining that FDC’s Binyatsi had actually obtained 231 votes making the Mithundira of the NRM the winner of the village poll since he had garnered more 56 votes.
However, Binyatsi argued that Bahitya is conniving with the NRM in an attempt to frustrate his well-earned victory.
Some of his supporters argued that unless Binyatsi is declared winner they will not accept the election outcome.
However, independent candidate Mr Julius Bonane Moonberg, who has stood for the position of Kidodo cell chairperson while conceding defeat to his FDC counterpart, said the security operatives had properly secured the election process.
In Kidodo, FDC’s FDC’s Muranga Bahati garnered 438 votes ejecting the incumbent Sharif Masereka who obtained 152 votes out of office. Apollo Ntakubeba who was also an independent candidate gained 71 while NUP’s Nelson Kabakwa secured a paltry 07 votes.
There was a moment of excitement as the presiding officer announced that Mr Muranga had won this year’s round of local council one elections especially from members of the opposition FDC party.
However, Mr. Moses Karutaro, an NRM Mobilizer from the Office of the National Chairman of the NRM, castigated some members of the NRM who he said didn’t rally behind their flag bearer.
ENDS