Suspended Hoima LC1 election gets new date, NRM sweeps city polls
Mugabi said voting was postponed to August 1 after supporters of the NUP candidate who were not registered attempted to join the voting lines, resulting in violence, blaming the violence on inadequate security deployment, saying the two police officers assigned to the polling station were overwhelmed by the number of people attempting to force their way into the polling area.
Norman Ntaro with a hat lining up as they voted him, he beat Julius Ayesiga an independent with 06 votes to 40 votes. (Credit: Peter Abaanabasazi)
HOIMA - The Local Council One (LC1) election in Hoima Park cell, which was suspended over violence, will be held on August 1, 2026, according to Hoima city authorities, as National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidates swept most cells in Hoima city during Tuesday's polls.
Hoima city resident commissioner Badru Mugabi said that, in consultation with Hoima Electoral Commission officials, voting in Park cell at the taxi park was suspended after violence erupted at the polling station.
Two candidates were contesting in Park cell, including NRM incumbent Hamu Mugisa and Musa Karazi of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Mugabi said voting was postponed to August 1 after supporters of the NUP candidate who were not registered attempted to join the voting lines, resulting in violence.
However, Mugisa blamed the violence on inadequate security deployment, saying the two police officers assigned to the polling station were overwhelmed by the number of people attempting to force their way into the polling area.
Albertine regional police spokesperson SP Julius Allan Hakiza said no serious incident had been registered.
The elections, conducted through lining up behind candidates, started at around 10:00 am with the reading of names for voter verification. The exercise attracted a big turnout of voters in most cells across Hoima city.
In Kiryateete East in Hoima East division, NRM incumbent Godfrey Batebya Tumusiime contested against his brother Emmanuel Kasigwa, who stood as an independent candidate.
Batebya defeated his brother with 393 votes against three. Batebya had five lines of voters behind him, while his brother had two people lining up behind him.
At Bank cell in Hoima East division, NRM incumbent Norman Ntaro secured 106 votes, defeating independent candidate Julius Ayesiga, who got 40 votes.
In some areas, candidates withdrew after realising they lacked support.
At Kyarwiru cell in Hoima East, independent candidate Mordekai Mugasa and Steven Kategere of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) withdrew, leaving NRM’s Anderson Kyahurwa to win with 1,010 votes.
In Kyakabubi village, independent candidate Shaban Wandera withdrew, leaving NRM’s Zam Kirokimu to win with 81 votes.
At Bucunga cell in Hoima East division, Stuart Tusabe secured 132 votes after independent candidate Dennis Osubiya Jurwa withdrew before the election was concluded.
Speaking after his election, Batebya said he was voted overwhelmingly because residents appreciated his efforts in restoring security in the area. He promised to work towards registering all residents and mobilising them to embrace the Parish Development Model (PDM).
Ntaro also expressed excitement about his election, saying it was his third term as chairperson of Bank cell.
He promised to continue advocating for security and mobilising residents to embrace government programmes such as PDM to enable them to move from poverty to a money economy.
When contacted, Hoima city election administrator Obura Atamba Tibahemuka declined to comment, saying she was still handling election petitions.