By Tom Gwebayanga

The Electoral Commission chairman Eng. Badru Kiggundu has cautioned the electorate in Kamuli district to adhere to the electoral laws and avoid malpractices in the forthcoming LC5 chairperson by-election.

He also warned the aspiring candidates from inciting violence among supporters and bribing the voters, or risk losing their candidature before polling day.
 
"The commission shall not tolerate perpetrators of violence, disunity and politics of hatred and those implicated risk losing their candidature," Kiggundu said.
 
He sounded the warning at Kyemba Garden Hotel in Kamuli town while meeting the aspiring candidates, district councilors, opinion leaders and stakeholders on Saturday.
 
The meeting was to brief candidates on the procedures and road map ahead of the November 29 by-election.

The nominations for the candidates will be held on November 1 and 2 and thereafter campaigns will start.
 
Flanked by Kamuli district Returning Officer, Samuel Kiyingi, Kiggundu called for harmony in the erratic campaigns in which eleven contestants are expected to participate.
 
"Violent campaigns are destructive and uniting the people after winning becomes a challenge," Kiggundu said.
 

Kiyingi warned aspirants against uttering fabricated academic transcripts for nomination.
 
"You're aware this by election came because a candidate uttered fake academic transcripts in 2006 and we no longer want a repeat," he warned.  

The by-election follows the nullification of Ahmed Kawooya Kawugu's election to the post by court because his academic papers were not satisfactory.
 
In reaction, the candidates arraigned fears of the fragile security intimidation, vote stuffing and alteration of results at all levels.
 
Samuel Tenywa, a resident of Kamuli town said deployment of the UPDF in the whole district on polling day is intimidation.
 
But Kiggundu promised to successfully steer the election without fear or favor.
 
In attendance were the aspiring candidates who included Kaloli Dhizaala, Ibrahim Mbadhi, Charles Isanga, George Kapere, Emanuel Kalimwembiro and Simon Ogema.

Others aspirants are NRM's Thomas Kategere and FDC's Salaamu Musumba who were represented in the meeting by Hajat Rehema Watongola and Aggrey Lwamaza respectively.