Woman’s lip bitten off as clashes, protests disrupt Mukono LC1 polls
The violence broke out among several incidents that disrupted the LC1 elections across Mukono district, where polling was suspended in Nantabulirwa, Bunakijja, Namuyenje, Golomolo and Ggonve villages following protests over the conduct of the exercise.
A woman bleeding after part of her lip was bitten off during the scuffle at Bunakijja Village in Katosi Town Council, Mukono district. (Credit: Henry Nsubuga)
MUKONO - An unidentified woman is nursing serious injuries after part of her lip was bitten off during violent clashes that erupted during the Local Council One (LC1) elections in Mukono district.
The woman was injured at Bunakijja village in Katosi Town Council after supporters of Democratic Party (DP) candidate David Mugabo and National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Haruna Lukoma turned against each other over allegations of electoral malpractice.
Witnesses said the woman bled profusely before being rushed to hospital for treatment.
The violence broke out among several incidents that disrupted the LC1 elections across Mukono district, where polling was suspended in Nantabulirwa, Bunakijja, Namuyenje, Golomolo and Ggonve villages following protests over the conduct of the exercise.
The angry residents forced their way into the polling station, prompting police officers and election officials to flee before voting was suspended.
In Mukono Hill cell, the election results were rejected by independent candidate Dickson Lukenge Nsabwa, son of the Bishop of Mukono Diocese, Rt Rev. Enos Kitto Kagodo, after he lost to National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Ibrah Kafeero, a cook at Bishop East Primary School.
Lukenge alleged that the election was marred by irregularities, claiming that non-residents were allowed to vote and that Electoral Commission procedures were not followed.
Residents in serious fighting which ended in a woman's lip being bitten off at Bunakijja village in Katosi Town Council, Mukono district. (Credit: Henry Nsubuga)
The election was temporarily halted after Lukenge and his supporters challenged the conduct of presiding officer Sarah Ndagire.
“Let the one who feels grieved file a formal petition to the Electoral Commission; this is done,” he said.
The declaration sparked protests from Lukenge and his supporters, who demanded that a fresh election be conducted, but their calls were unsuccessful.
Elsewhere, voting was conducted peacefully in Kiwanga cell in Goma division, where National Unity Platform (NUP) chairperson Richard Lugoloobi Kasiriivu retained his seat after defeating NRM's Swaibu Ssemwogerere by 769 votes.
In Upper Nabuti cell, Mukono Central division, NUP candidate Paul Nsubuga defeated NRM's Amos Ssekabira, securing 129 votes against 22.
By the close of polling, election officials had not announced when voting would resume in the villages where the exercise was suspended, while candidates who rejected the results were expected to pursue formal petitions with the Electoral Commission.