The nomination of candidates in the Hoima district LC5 chairperson byelection on Thursday ended in chaos after one of the candidates missed nomination.

The second day of the exercise started in the morning. Candidates: Savanna Vincent Muhumuza(independent), Uthiman Mubarak Mugisa (NRM), Moses Aguda (National Unity Platform) and Lennox Mugume (independent) were nominated by the Electoral Commission (EC).

The chaos started after the Hoima district EC returning officer Merab Kasande closed the nomination before nominating Suzan Atuhura who had turned up to be nominated as an independent candidate.

Angry Suzan Atuhura said they were using late submission of her documents and supporters’ signatures as an excuse to prevent her from participating in the election. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)

Kasande said Atuhura missed the nomination after she failed to submit her requirements in time.

According to Kasande, Atuhura submitted the names of her supporters and her other documents to the nomination table as the mandated time of 5:00 pm had expired.

She added that, according to the law, they could not nominate her beyond the expiry of this time and advised Atuhura to appeal to the Electoral Commission head office in Kampala.

However, Atuhura refuted Kasande's claims arguing that she submitted the required documents in time.

According to Atuhura, she spent the whole day at the venue, but they did not tell her that her supporters' names and signatures were not qualifying yet she had submitted them to EC.

She demanded an explanation saying this mess was planned for, and that they were using late submission of her documents and supporters’ signatures as an excuse to prevent her from participating in the election.

The chaos took about 30 minutes as Kasande and her supporters besieged the returning officer from moving out of the nomination room.

The Police, led by Hoima district Police commander Jackson Bogere, intervened and attempted to pull Kasande out of the nomination room in vain.

This chaos forced the Police to escort the returning officer out of the nomination room. However, Atuhura rushed to the vehicle of the returning officer and blocked her from entering the vehicle.

Hoima district EC returning officer Merab Kasande was escorted out of the nomination room by Police officers. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)

They begged Atuhura to cool down in vain. While Police officers and EC officials pleaded with Atuhura, Kasende entered the vehicle, and they drove off from the nomination venue.

By the end of nominations on Thursday, five candidates had successfully been nominated. Patrick Musiguzi, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate was nominated on Wednesday.