-

Partial results from half of the 86 polling stations in Rukiga County, Kabale District, showed that the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate, Jack Sabiiti and his NRM rival, Adison Kakuru, were running neck to neck by the time we went to press. Closely following was independent candidate Amos Mugisha while Medard Gumisiriza, another independent, was trailing.

Kakuru, who recently resigned his Kabale District chairman seat, had won in most of the NRM strongholds while Sabiiti, the FDC treasurer who held the Rukiga parliamentary seat until 2006, was also leading in most areas of Rwamucucu. Mugisha lost in NRM primaries he said were rigged in favour of Kakuru.Four commissioners of the Electoral Commission headed by Eng. Badru Kiggundu were in the district to oversee the exercise. Foreign delegations from the US, UK and Netherlands missions were also in Kabale District to observe the Rukiga by-elections.

The district returning officer, Idi Kahwa, said the voting at all the 86 polling stations was free and fair. Kakuru’s supporters were optimistic of winning while Sabiiti said the appointment of polling officials was not fair as Gomborora security officials, who are partisan, were among the polling officials.

Supporters Buy Votes
Three members of FDC were yesterday arrested in Rwamucucu Sub-county in Kabale for alleged bribery in Rukiga County parliamentary by-election. George Abaho, head of the police elections complaints desk in Rukiga, said the three men were netted on Sunday night distributing money to people to convince them to vote for the FDC candidate, Sabiiti.

The three suspects are Edward Mubangizi, Michael Bandiho and a man only identified as Bireete. The vehicle the three men were travelling in was impounded and was being held at Rwamucucu Police Post pending investigations into the case. A total of 43,887 voters were expected to cast their votes in the highly contested Rukiga parliamentary by-election in Kabale District.

Both President Yoweri Museveni and FDC boss Kizza Besigye pitched camp in Rukiga last week trying to canvass support for their respective party candidates. The Rukiga parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of NRM’s Sam Byanagwa, who succumbed to cancer three months ago. Top government ministers like James Kakooza, Nsaba Buturo, Hope Mwesigye, Pereza Ahabwe, Serapio Rukundo, Dorothy Hyuha and Amama Mbabazi have been in the area to campaign for the NRM candidate. The FDC onslaught was led by Amanya Mushega, Salaamu Musumba, Nandala Mafabi, Abdu Katuntu, Ingrid Turinawe and Mugisha Muntu.

Heavy Deployment of Police
There was tension among the residents following heavy deployment of security personnel with alleged harassment of FDC officials by state operatives. Over the weekend, FDC woman leader Ingrid Turinawe was hospitalised after she was allegedly beaten by police officials.
Grace Turyagumanawe, the deputy director of operations in the Uganda Police Force, was in Rukiga County to oversee the elections.

He said cases of violence that characterized the campaign process had not been reported during the elections. He also said because a large number of observers and non-resident voters had turned up for the polls, the police were keeping a close eye on the process to ensure order.

At Kakatunda polling station, the LC2 Chairman of Nyabirerema Parish, Joseph Turyasingura, was detained when he was found with pre-ticked ballot papers. A second case of malpractice was found at Bukinda Seminary polling station when a man was discovered offering to vote on behalf of the elderly. Regina Bafaki, the leader of Democracy Monitoring Group, said her organisation would document and report on any cases of malpractice.