Violence and ballot stuffing mar Jinja city mayoral elections
Reports of irregularities began to emerge from the Jinja North Division, specifically within Kibibi Ward, where voters and officials were reportedly attacked by organised gangs.
Jinja City Police Commander David Kamugira (left) calming down NUP's Kirunda Mubarak (middle) who was confronting Juma Muyita whom he was accusing of ballot stuffing at Nakanyonyi polling station in Kibibi Ward in Jinja City on Thursday. (Photos by Donald Kiirya)
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The local government elections in Jinja City were plunged into chaos earlier today (Thursday) as allegations of massive ballot stuffing and targeted violence overshadowed the democratic exercise.
Reports of irregularities began to emerge from the Jinja North Division, specifically within Kibibi Ward, where voters and officials were reportedly attacked by organised gangs.
Allegations of electoral fraud and violence
The election, which pits the incumbent Mayor, Peter Kasolo Okocha, against 13 contenders, including Abdulhafidh Nagaya (NRM) and Kirunda Mubarak (NUP), took a dark turn at the Buwairama Mosque Compound polling station and Bususwa C/U A-M polling station.
The Polling Officer, John Tiwaaku, said that the process was proceeding peacefully with only 44 out of 488 registered voters having cast their ballots when Sula Muyita, contesting for councillor at Jinja City Council, allegedly arrived with a group of supporters.
"They attacked the polling officials and grabbed all unused ballot papers, which they ticked in favour of their candidates. These goons pre-ticked and stuffed the ballot boxes. Ballot papers intended for women councillors were also taken and not returned," Tiwaaku narrated.
The violence left several residents injured. Hussein Tenywa, a voter at the Buwairama station, was reportedly beaten by the group and sustained a deep cut to his left eye.
Another witness, Ronald Kyemba, described the scene as one of total chaos, stating that the gangs took every ballot at Buwairama polling station and left many people injured or unaccounted for.
Security and administrative response
The Jinja City Returning Officer, Flavia Nakasi, confirmed that she received reports of the chaos in Kibibi Ward.
She stated that the police, led by DPC Sakwa of Buwenge, have since visited the affected scenes, including Buwairama and Bususwa CU A-M polling stations.
Preliminary security reports indicate that an unconfirmed number of ballot papers were pre-ticked by members of the Muyita family at different polling stations, specifically in Kibibi ward, Jinja North division in Jinja City.
Security was bolstered after a near-physical confrontation between Kirunda Mubarak and Juma Muyita at Nakanyonyi polling station.
Jinja DPC David Kamugira who visited Nakanyonyi polling station, confirmed that a Polling Officer of Nakanyonyi Polling station and John Tiwaaku, a Polling Officer at Buwairama Mosque Compound polling station, were taken to Buwenge Police to record statements.
Violence was also reported in Mafubira trading centre, Namulesa trading centre, and Kirinya, among others.