By Vision reporter

ELECTIONS in Ssembabule district started yesterday amid tight security and complaints of insufficient voting materials in some areas.

There were no major incidents as a cocktail of security agencies, including the Internal Security Organisation, the Rapid Response Unit, the local defence forces and un-uniformed security personnel surveyed polling stations to ensure peaceful elections.

Police patrol cars moved from village to the other, and Police chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura pitched camp at Rainbow Hotel in Ssembabule town, receiving reports and dispatching personnel wherever needed.

Kayihura, who has been in the district for three days, said the elections were peaceful. He noted that the heavy deployment of the Police would continue to ensure that there is permanent and sustainable security.

Kayihura said the Police would intensify community policing to avoid lawlessness.

The district NRM registrar, Salim Salim Kulembera, went to polling stations distributing election materials.
Although ballot papers were airlifted to the district on Saturday, shortages were reported in some areas, which delayed the start of the elections.

As contestants camped at the NRM electoral commission offices, disagreement arose between the two main camps, that of foreign affairs minister and Mawogola MP Sam Kutesa, and Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Sekikubo’s.

Kutesa suggested that elections should go on in the areas where sufficient materials had been received, while Sekikubo maintained that elections be deferred until all villages receive sufficient materials.

Kutesa yesterday told New Vision that he is expecting a landslide victory, and described his opponents as weak and minor.

“I have already won this election. I am going around to see how voting is going on to ensure that there is no disruption.

In a separate interview, Sekikubo said he was sure to win. I am waiting for the vote counting to begin, and I am sure I will win if nothing else happens,” he said.

Kabatsi, who obtained a court injunction against fellow contender district Woman MP Hanifa Kawooya, said it was wrong for the party’s electoral commission to allow her to stand despite the court injunction.