Bukoto South poll: Counting of votes underway

By Joseph Kizza and Ali Mambule

Counting of votes is on after a violence-marred by-election for the vacant Bukoto South parliamentary seat in Lwengo district.
 
It is clear that the area residents are uncertain about the outcome of the election results following a day filled with clashes among voters, police and prominent politicians.

The voting, which started early Thursday morning featured NRM’s Alintuma Nsambu, DP’s Mathias Nsubuga, FDC’s Julius Sebugwawo and Independent Dan Katula.

But campaigns leading to today’s election placed the NRM flagbearer and the DP secretary general as top favorites.

The turn-up was high as enthusiastic voters braved the early morning chill to vote for their candidates.

But the process did not go on as smoothly as it had begun as three Members of Parliament from the opposition were Thursday morning arrested on allegations that they were causing havoc during the election.

Dozens other people were also arrested for causing confusion.

Southern regional police spokesperson Noah Serunjogi told New Vision online that Betty Nambooze for Mukono municipality, Muhammad Kawuma of Entebbe municipality and Moses Kasibante were among the fifty people arrested.

Nambooze was admitted at St. Damian's clinic in Kasaana Mukungwe sub-county Masaka district after getting a diabetic attack while at Masaka police station cells at about 3.00am on Thursday.

"Even when Dr. Lulume advised them to take me for treatment at about 1.00am, they turned a deaf ear and only called for the ambulance to take me to hospital two hours later," Nambooze, a DP die-hard said.

Other people in the police cells include Elisa Mukasa, the LC III chairman of Goma division in Mukono municipality and Christopher Mutumba, Nambooze's driver.