Chaos mars village chairperson elections in Jinja
The situation later escalated when voters forced open the gate of Main Street Primary School and entered the polling venue to vote. Electoral officials fled the scene, fearing they would be attacked.
Some of the supporters of NUP's Robert Ssemakula (not in picture) in a scuffle with supporters of Sazil Kawoma (not in picture) during the LC1 chairperson elections at Iganga Road Cell in Jinja City on Tuesday. (Credit: Donald Kiirya)
JINJA - Chaos erupted during the election of village chairpersons in several villages across Jinja city as residents clashed with electoral officials and fought among themselves.
At Alidina cell in Central Jinja East ward, the election began on July 28, 2026, with the verification of the voters' register for those eligible to participate.
However, trouble started after the election supervisor read out the names of voters who were not present at the time. When they arrived later, they were barred from entering the polling venue.
Police, who had been called in for reinforcement, intervened and calmed the situation while restraining voters who had started arguing with electoral officials over the register.
The situation later escalated when voters forced open the gate of Main Street Primary School and entered the polling venue to vote. Electoral officials fled the scene, fearing they would be attacked.
The contest at Alidina cell was between Lawrence Semaganda, also known as 'Vin', who was seeking to reclaim the seat, and Abbas Bogere, a trader at Jinja Central Market.
Some of the supporters of NUP's Robert Ssemakula (not in picture) in a scuffle with supporters of Sazil Kawoma (not in picture) during the LC1 chairperson elections at Iganga Road Cell in Jinja City on Tuesday. (Credit: Donald Kiirya)
Chaos also erupted there as election supervisor Geoffrey Kalaako read out the voters' register.
Kalaako initially read the register, but residents disputed it, triggering an argument as Binasali, clad in a yellow NRM shirt, protested.
Police and the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) were called in to restore order and directed Kalaako to re-read the register, with each voter crossing to the other side after their name was called.
After the verification exercise, conducted under heavy security deployment, voters lined up behind their preferred candidates before votes were counted.
Batambuze won the election with 108 votes, while Binasali received 17.
Batambuze's supporters carried him on their shoulders in celebration after Kalaako declared him the winner.
The election supervisor at Iganga Road village was also rescued by police and the UPDF after an angry crowd reportedly started assaulting him. (Credit: Donald Kiirya)
t Iganga Road Village in the same Central Jinja East ward, Sazil Kawoma (NRM), who served as vice chairperson in the previous term, won the election after securing more than 160 votes.
However, the election was nearly disrupted by fighting between his supporters and those of Robert Semakula of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
The election supervisor at Iganga Road village was also rescued by police and the UPDF after an angry crowd reportedly started assaulting him.
The outgoing chairperson, Zaituni Nakalanzi, also contested but attracted few supporters, many of whom later joined Semakula's line. Despite the additional support, Semakula lost the election.
Elsewhere, Emmanuel Muyanda (Independent) won at Lubas Road cell, Robert Birimengo was re-elected at Oboja Road cell, and Denis Mukwana won the election in Gokhale village.
Voting did resume in other areas affected by chaos, including Buwenda and Spire Road.
Following the disruption at Alidina village, the Electoral Commission rescheduled voting for today, Wednesday (July 29).