Presiding officer whisked away after dramatic Kabuuma LC1 results declaration
While turnout among registered voters was relatively high, the comparatively small voters' register for such a densely populated community raised questions among residents about whether many eligible voters had failed to register or had been omitted from the register, underscoring concerns about voter participation in grassroots elections.
Security personnel swiftly intervened and restored calm among the electorate, allowing the verification exercise to proceed uninterrupted. (Credit: Donald Kiirya)
KAMPALA - Tension and dramatic scenes overshadowed the Local Council One (LC1) chairperson election in Kabuuma cell, Busabala ward, Masajja division, Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality after the presiding polling official was whisked away by police and military personnel moments after announcing the results.
The election, conducted under the Electoral Commission's (EC) supervision by lining up behind their preferred candidate, attracted hundreds of residents who turned up to elect their village chairperson amid heavy security deployment.
The EC registered 1,867 voters for the exercise in Kabuuma, a sprawling village estimated to be home to more than 30,000 residents. By the close of polling, 1,207 valid votes had been counted, representing a voter turnout of about 64.6% of those on the register.
While turnout among registered voters was relatively high, the comparatively small voters' register for such a densely populated community raised questions among residents about whether many eligible voters had failed to register or had been omitted from the register, underscoring concerns about voter participation in grassroots elections.
Voting began at 9:00 am with voter verification. Presiding polling official Shanon Saka Senyonjo called out the names of registered voters one by one before issuing them with voter slips, a process that continued until about 2:30 pm.
Five candidates contested the LC1 chairperson seat. They included Meddy Mwanje of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), independent candidate Henry Sebugenyi, Ivan Sanyu, popularly known as Kukumba, Charles Galiwango and Charles Kabogoza.
The election was particularly significant because it sought to resolve a leadership vacuum that has persisted in Kabuuma since the disputed 2018 LC1 elections.
The contest between Hadad Kawuki and Henry Sebugenyi descended into violence before the matter was taken to court. The court subsequently nullified the election results and ordered fresh polls.
Pending the election of a substantive chairperson, then vice chairperson Sarah Nabagala was directed to oversee the village administration and retain custody of the official village stamp.
Kawuki later relocated from the village, while Sebugenyi returned to contest Tuesday's election.
At around 1:30 pm, tension briefly flared when supporters of Meddy Mwanje escorted him to the area where voter verification was taking place before lining up behind him while chanting, "We are hungry, let's vote our person."
Security personnel swiftly intervened and restored calm, allowing the verification exercise to proceed uninterrupted.
Voting commenced shortly after 2:15 pm, with Senyonjo cautioning candidates not to look behind them as residents lined up in support of their preferred contestants.
"You are not allowed to look behind to see who did or did not vote for you because that will cause injustice and hatred once you know who never voted for you," Senyonjo warned.
In a dramatic twist, candidates Charles Galiwango and Charles Kabogoza, together with the residents who had initially lined up behind them, crossed over and joined the queue of independent candidate Henry Sebugenyi.
Kabogoza said the move was intended to unite the village against individuals he accused of fuelling conflict.
"We have to pacify our village, Kabuuma, from brokers and land grabbers," he said.
Under the Local Governments (Amendment) Act governing LC1 elections, residents cast their votes by lining up behind their preferred candidates.
However, only those issued with official voter slips during the verification exercise were counted as valid voters.
Election officials began counting with Meddy Mwanje's queue, followed by Ivan Sanyu's supporters before proceeding to Henry Sebugenyi's line. The queues stretched for nearly half a kilometre as hundreds of residents lined up behind their preferred candidates.
Before the counting exercise had concluded, Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama arrived at the polling station to observe the exercise.
"Mwanje Meddy, 700 votes; Henry Sebugenyi, 500 votes; Ivan Sanyu, seven votes; Charles Galiwango, zero; Charles Kabogoza, zero," Senyonjo declared.
He immediately entered the vehicle, shut the door and was swiftly driven away by police and military personnel, leaving residents and Electoral Commission officials visibly surprised.
As a crowd gathered around Justice Byabakama, several residents urged him to use his authority to officially declare the winner.
Addressing the gathering, Byabakama commended residents for maintaining peace despite the tense moments that characterised the exercise.
"I want to thank the residents of Kabuuma for turning out in large numbers to vote. Please remain calm as you wait for the declaration of the winner," he said.
Responding to calls for him to announce the results, Byabakama explained that the law vests that responsibility in the presiding polling official after completing and signing the statutory Declaration of Results forms.
"If the exercise has been conducted lawfully, you will get the results. Declaring the results depends on signed Declaration of Results forms, which I do not have. If I declared the winner without them, I would be breaking the law," he said.
Residents also questioned why the Electoral Commission continues to conduct LC1 elections using the lining-up system instead of a secret ballot.
Byabakama said organising secret ballot elections in every village across the country would require enormous financial resources.
"Organising secret ballot voting is very costly. In fact, it can consume the whole budget of the country," he explained.
Although the poll was punctuated by moments of tension and the dramatic departure of the presiding officer immediately after announcing the results, it ended without the widespread violence that characterised the disputed 2018 election.
For many residents, the exercise represented another step towards restoring stable leadership and bringing closure to a dispute that has divided Kabuuma for nearly eight years.