Two killed in election violence in Jinja
“In the process of restoring peace, bullets were shot in the air; unfortunately, Kalulu ended up being hit by stray bullets that left him dead on the spot, leaving Ikaali nursing stray gunshot wounds,” Mubi said.
Latibu Ikaali succumbed to gunshot wounds after the LC1 polls for Kabi zone at Buwenge Progressive Academy in Buwenge Town Council, Jinja district, on Tuesday, while Fred Kalulu, alias Shadow of Death, is also said to have been killed by stray bullets at the same location. (Credit: Jackie Nambogga)
JINJA - Two people have been confirmed dead following violence during the LC1 elections in Kabi zone, Kamwanyi parish, Buwenge town council, Jinja district.
The election, held at Buwenge Progressive Academy polling station, was contested by the incumbent, Muzamiru Nabikamba, who defected from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) last week, and Richard Kakande, a taxi driver in Buwenge town council.
According to the Kiira Regional Police spokesperson, James Mubi, violence broke out after the incumbent was declared the winner. He said Kakande and his supporters confronted polling officials and security personnel following the announcement of the results.
Eyewitnesses said Fred Kalulu disputed the number of people who turned up to vote, arguing that they exceeded the number of voters on the register. He and others subsequently boycotted the exercise.
Although 102 voters were registered, eyewitnesses claimed that more than 300 people turned up to vote, prompting Kakande and his supporters to call for a fresh election, but their request was rejected.
It is alleged that the soldier, who had kept an eye on the firearm after it had been placed aside, managed to regain possession of it before shooting Kalulu, 19, twice in the chest.
Upon learning that Kalulu had been shot, his associate, Latibu Ikaali, 23, who owned a boutique along Market Street in Buwenge town council, rushed to the scene to establish what had happened.
Mubi accused politicians in Buwenge town council of being behind what he described as radicalised group leaders.
He said the deceased had earlier disrupted polling at Market zone before moving to Kabi zone, where they allegedly attempted to disrupt voting again.
While eyewitnesses claimed Kalulu was shot twice in the chest and that Ikaali sustained gunshot wounds to the shoulder, arm and stomach, Mubi maintained that both men were struck by stray bullets.
“In the process of restoring peace, bullets were shot in the air; unfortunately, Kalulu ended up being hit by stray bullets that left him dead on the spot, leaving Ikaali nursing stray gunshot wounds,” he said.
Ikaali was rushed to Buwenge Health Centre IV before being referred to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Their bodies were taken to the hospital mortuary pending post-mortem examinations.
Police have identified Kakande and another man only identified as Bosco as wanted persons and urged them to surrender peacefully.
The Kiira regional police commander, Charles Nsaba, appealed to communities in Buwenge, Bugembe, Namulesa, Wanyange Lake, Masese and Kakira-Polota, among other areas, to reject radicalised violence and politics of hate.