350 petitions filed, losers call for fresh polls
Sep 10, 2010
THE biggest challenge facing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders being elected today is sorting out complaints about the primaries. A total of 350 petitions have been filed by aggrieved party members who lost.
NRM ELECTIONS
By Barbara Among
THE biggest challenge facing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders being elected today is sorting out complaints about the primaries. A total of 350 petitions have been filed by aggrieved party members who lost.
Most want fresh polls, saying the electoral system has been paralysed by intimidation, rigging, vote buying and violence.
“We have received 350 petitions and we are not working on them till after the conference next week,†said electoral chairperson Felistus Magomu.
She said the party would devote the next week to investigating the petitions. “There are so many complaints, some of which are being addressed by the district tribunals, the party district electoral commission and the party’s electoral commission,†NRM electoral commissioner Lydia Wanyoto said.
“We have dedicated this week to addressing the issues of elections. In Ssembabule, where we have had major problems, we shall meet and sensitise our members,†she added.
Those who lost in the primaries have for the last three weeks flocked the party headquarters on plot 10, Kyadondo Road, demanding that they are either announced as winners or fresh elections be held.
Ministers have been accused of using security personnel and their aides to intimidate voters. Petitioners also accused the electoral commission of inefficiency. Some were seen shouting at Wanyoto.
“There were no election materials, people used exercise books to vote. In addition, returning officers were openly in favour of certain candidates,†shouted an angry candidate at the headquarters last week.
Voting kicked off on August 30, but was marred by logistical problems, violence and irregularities, forcing the NRM Electoral Commission to postpone it in a number of areas. Twelve districts are yet to vote.
Party members are worried that if not handled, the mess in the primaries could divide the party.
Collective pressure
Among those who have petitioned are minister without portfolio Dorothy Hyuha, state minister for energy Simon D’ujanga, state minister for labour Emmanuel Otaala, state minister for water Jennifer Namuyangu, and several MPs.
In a joint statement, four candidates vying for the positions of MP and LC5 party flag bearers in Zombo district petitioned the secretariat to cancel results from the area.
They are D’Ujanga, Nebbi Woman MP Catherine Mavenjina, Nebbi LC5 chairman John Pascal Wapokurwa and NRM chairman, John Orwiny.
“You will find the number of votes declared in some polling stations were more than the number in the voters’ registrar. So, how do you say the results were genuine during the party elections?†Mavenjina asked.
Stanley Omwonya, a former education service commissioner, garnered 13,003 votes, beating D’Ujanga, who got 11,980 votes. The Zombo Woman MP slot was won by Grace Kwiocwiny, with over 22,000 votes, against Mavenjina’s 14,000.
Ethics minister Dr. Nsaba Buturo attacked the NRM electoral commission and “groupsâ€, for the mess in the primaries. Buturo who lost his bid to become the Bufumbira East flag bearer, said “mafias†tried to sabotage the exercise.
“It can be safely said that the elections have left considerable strife among Ugandans who witnessed mishandling of the entire exercise. Complaints that political mafias in different parts of the country had sabotaged the electoral process abound. It has taken the President to denounce the individuals whose efforts led to this strife,†Buturo told journalists in Kampala.
“The problems we see are driven by greed and there are some people with hidden agenda to replace the established leadership,†Buturo charged. The minister wants the Police to investigate the cases and bring those responsible to justice.
In Kyenjojo, nine candidates who participated in the primaries petitioned EC to nullify all the results in the district citing malpractices ranging from hooliganism, to intimidation, bribing voters, tampering with registers and importation of non-voters to the district.
The petition which is signed by candidates of Mwenge South, Mwenge North and Kyenjojo, said some villages did not vote. They claimed that one candidate, the Minister of State for Investment, Aston Kajara, transported election materials and with the help of district officials, chased away Dorcus Magoba, the returning officer, to declare their own results on his radio.
Bundibugyo Woman MP Jane Alisemera, district chairman Jackson Bambalira, MP aspirant Simolli Baguma, MP aspirant Sikyweunda and LC3 contender for Kasitu sub-county Elijah Simbulereki, alleged that state minister for primary education Kamanda Bataringaya’s aides beat up their supporters and chased their agents from the polling stations.
“Ballot boxes were kept overnight by Kamanda’s agents in their houses and brought to the police station in Nyahuka after 11:00am,†read a petition signed by six losers from Bundibugyo.
Perhaps the most interesting accusation came from NRM deputy Secretary General, Hyuha, who accused her opponent, a 22-year-old university student, Selina Nevanda, of intimidating her and her supporters.
Water minister Jennifer Namuyangu, who lost to MP Saleh Kamba, spent hours lamenting at the party headquarters last week where she delivered a petition challenging the election results for Kibuuku district.
She complained that the elections were marred by irregularities.
“There were no registers. Kamba distributed his own registers and deleted names of those who did not support him. Many villages did not vote.â€
MP Mariam Nalubega, who lost to education minister Namirembe Bitamazire, accused the minister of rigging the elections by allowing students to vote. Nalubega said the minister’s agents brought pre-ticked ballot papers, put them in the ballot boxes and took off. “I don’t agree with the outcome of the elections. I want them nullified and fresh elections conducted. Otherwise, I will stand as an Independent because the law allows me to do so.â€
The youth MP for eastern region, Zakke Kibedi, in a petition, also said elections for Jinja municipality West were characterised by irregularities.
He said his opponent, the district party chairman, distributed election materials contrary to the law. Kibedi also accused him of inflating the number of voters in the constituency by ferrying outsiders to vote.
Herbert Mulekwa, who lost the Sironko LC5 chairperson race, claimed during the voting exercise, there was ballot stuffing.
Other MPs who presented their grievances included Jalia Bintu (Masindi), Beatrice Byenkya (Hoima) and Loi Kiryapawo (Budaka).
Aringa aspirant Rashid Govule Iyiga and Tororo Woman MP aspirant Sarah Achieng Opendi, who lost to incumbent MP Grace Oburu also petitioned.
Kinkiizi West constituency loser Gad Ahimbisibwe, accused Security Minister Amama Mbabazi of bribery and intimidation. “At my home church he gave sh1m and then de-campaigned me saying I am short and cannot be heard in Parliament so they should not give me votes.â€
He claimed Mbabazi used security personnel like GISOs and most electoral materials were kept in people’s homes after voting, but before signing declaration forms.
In the newly-created Rubirizi district, the Woman MP and the Bunyaruguru loser Cadet Benjamin accused incumbent MP, Gaudioso Tindamanyire of intimidation and altering results in his favour.
“All the above has caused discontent among the electorate, which explains the heroic welcome accorded FDC’s president Kiiza Besigye and the subsequent defection of NRM supporters to his side,†said Cadet.
Minister Mwesigye Rukutana’s opponent, Peterson Musinguzi, accused him of intimidation and rigging.
The Ndorwa West NRM parliamentary candidate, Charles Musekuura, who lost to the incumbent, MP David Bahati, has called for the cancellation of the results.
Petitions have also come from the districts of Agago Woman MP seat, Kaabong, Yumbe and Hoima.
In Lango sub-region atleast four who claim to have been cheated in the primaries are going to stand as independent candidates. They attributed their failure to vote rigging, late arrival of voting materials, missing names in the voters’ register, intimidation and changing of results.
Sylvia Akello, who is eyeing the Otuke woman MP slot, said she would run as an independent because people had assured her of block votes. “I was not defeated. The election was just rigged,†said Akello who lost to Annet Okwenye.
Akello added that if she let Okwenye stand, it would be like giving Otuke to the opposition, especially the UPC. But Okwenye hit back saying her votes were clean and those claiming rigging were failures.
Christine Acen who was beaten by MP Rebecca Amuge Otengo in Alebtong, says she won in seven sub-counties but was shocked to discover that she did not go through.
Kenneth Olelo, a former political assistant to lands minister Daniel Omara Atubo whom he also contested against, wants fresh elections.
“I have sent my petition citing massive maltipractices,†Olelo he said on phone.
Atubo described Olelo’s petition as ‘nonsense’ and said his claim of maltipractices did not hold water.
Other petitioners are John Baptist Ogwal for Otuke LC5 and Patrick Okello for Omoro LC5 councillor.
Additional reporting by Anne Mugisa
By Barbara Among
THE biggest challenge facing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders being elected today is sorting out complaints about the primaries. A total of 350 petitions have been filed by aggrieved party members who lost.
Most want fresh polls, saying the electoral system has been paralysed by intimidation, rigging, vote buying and violence.
“We have received 350 petitions and we are not working on them till after the conference next week,†said electoral chairperson Felistus Magomu.
She said the party would devote the next week to investigating the petitions. “There are so many complaints, some of which are being addressed by the district tribunals, the party district electoral commission and the party’s electoral commission,†NRM electoral commissioner Lydia Wanyoto said.
“We have dedicated this week to addressing the issues of elections. In Ssembabule, where we have had major problems, we shall meet and sensitise our members,†she added.
Those who lost in the primaries have for the last three weeks flocked the party headquarters on plot 10, Kyadondo Road, demanding that they are either announced as winners or fresh elections be held.
Ministers have been accused of using security personnel and their aides to intimidate voters. Petitioners also accused the electoral commission of inefficiency. Some were seen shouting at Wanyoto.
“There were no election materials, people used exercise books to vote. In addition, returning officers were openly in favour of certain candidates,†shouted an angry candidate at the headquarters last week.
Voting kicked off on August 30, but was marred by logistical problems, violence and irregularities, forcing the NRM Electoral Commission to postpone it in a number of areas. Twelve districts are yet to vote.
Party members are worried that if not handled, the mess in the primaries could divide the party.
Collective pressure
Among those who have petitioned are minister without portfolio Dorothy Hyuha, state minister for energy Simon D’ujanga, state minister for labour Emmanuel Otaala, state minister for water Jennifer Namuyangu, and several MPs.
In a joint statement, four candidates vying for the positions of MP and LC5 party flag bearers in Zombo district petitioned the secretariat to cancel results from the area.
They are D’Ujanga, Nebbi Woman MP Catherine Mavenjina, Nebbi LC5 chairman John Pascal Wapokurwa and NRM chairman, John Orwiny.
“You will find the number of votes declared in some polling stations were more than the number in the voters’ registrar. So, how do you say the results were genuine during the party elections?†Mavenjina asked.
Stanley Omwonya, a former education service commissioner, garnered 13,003 votes, beating D’Ujanga, who got 11,980 votes. The Zombo Woman MP slot was won by Grace Kwiocwiny, with over 22,000 votes, against Mavenjina’s 14,000.
Ethics minister Dr. Nsaba Buturo attacked the NRM electoral commission and “groupsâ€, for the mess in the primaries. Buturo who lost his bid to become the Bufumbira East flag bearer, said “mafias†tried to sabotage the exercise.
“It can be safely said that the elections have left considerable strife among Ugandans who witnessed mishandling of the entire exercise. Complaints that political mafias in different parts of the country had sabotaged the electoral process abound. It has taken the President to denounce the individuals whose efforts led to this strife,†Buturo told journalists in Kampala.
“The problems we see are driven by greed and there are some people with hidden agenda to replace the established leadership,†Buturo charged. The minister wants the Police to investigate the cases and bring those responsible to justice.
In Kyenjojo, nine candidates who participated in the primaries petitioned EC to nullify all the results in the district citing malpractices ranging from hooliganism, to intimidation, bribing voters, tampering with registers and importation of non-voters to the district.
The petition which is signed by candidates of Mwenge South, Mwenge North and Kyenjojo, said some villages did not vote. They claimed that one candidate, the Minister of State for Investment, Aston Kajara, transported election materials and with the help of district officials, chased away Dorcus Magoba, the returning officer, to declare their own results on his radio.
Bundibugyo Woman MP Jane Alisemera, district chairman Jackson Bambalira, MP aspirant Simolli Baguma, MP aspirant Sikyweunda and LC3 contender for Kasitu sub-county Elijah Simbulereki, alleged that state minister for primary education Kamanda Bataringaya’s aides beat up their supporters and chased their agents from the polling stations.
“Ballot boxes were kept overnight by Kamanda’s agents in their houses and brought to the police station in Nyahuka after 11:00am,†read a petition signed by six losers from Bundibugyo.
Perhaps the most interesting accusation came from NRM deputy Secretary General, Hyuha, who accused her opponent, a 22-year-old university student, Selina Nevanda, of intimidating her and her supporters.
Water minister Jennifer Namuyangu, who lost to MP Saleh Kamba, spent hours lamenting at the party headquarters last week where she delivered a petition challenging the election results for Kibuuku district.
She complained that the elections were marred by irregularities.
“There were no registers. Kamba distributed his own registers and deleted names of those who did not support him. Many villages did not vote.â€
MP Mariam Nalubega, who lost to education minister Namirembe Bitamazire, accused the minister of rigging the elections by allowing students to vote. Nalubega said the minister’s agents brought pre-ticked ballot papers, put them in the ballot boxes and took off. “I don’t agree with the outcome of the elections. I want them nullified and fresh elections conducted. Otherwise, I will stand as an Independent because the law allows me to do so.â€
The youth MP for eastern region, Zakke Kibedi, in a petition, also said elections for Jinja municipality West were characterised by irregularities.
He said his opponent, the district party chairman, distributed election materials contrary to the law. Kibedi also accused him of inflating the number of voters in the constituency by ferrying outsiders to vote.
Herbert Mulekwa, who lost the Sironko LC5 chairperson race, claimed during the voting exercise, there was ballot stuffing.
Other MPs who presented their grievances included Jalia Bintu (Masindi), Beatrice Byenkya (Hoima) and Loi Kiryapawo (Budaka).
Aringa aspirant Rashid Govule Iyiga and Tororo Woman MP aspirant Sarah Achieng Opendi, who lost to incumbent MP Grace Oburu also petitioned.
Kinkiizi West constituency loser Gad Ahimbisibwe, accused Security Minister Amama Mbabazi of bribery and intimidation. “At my home church he gave sh1m and then de-campaigned me saying I am short and cannot be heard in Parliament so they should not give me votes.â€
He claimed Mbabazi used security personnel like GISOs and most electoral materials were kept in people’s homes after voting, but before signing declaration forms.
In the newly-created Rubirizi district, the Woman MP and the Bunyaruguru loser Cadet Benjamin accused incumbent MP, Gaudioso Tindamanyire of intimidation and altering results in his favour.
“All the above has caused discontent among the electorate, which explains the heroic welcome accorded FDC’s president Kiiza Besigye and the subsequent defection of NRM supporters to his side,†said Cadet.
Minister Mwesigye Rukutana’s opponent, Peterson Musinguzi, accused him of intimidation and rigging.
The Ndorwa West NRM parliamentary candidate, Charles Musekuura, who lost to the incumbent, MP David Bahati, has called for the cancellation of the results.
Petitions have also come from the districts of Agago Woman MP seat, Kaabong, Yumbe and Hoima.
In Lango sub-region atleast four who claim to have been cheated in the primaries are going to stand as independent candidates. They attributed their failure to vote rigging, late arrival of voting materials, missing names in the voters’ register, intimidation and changing of results.
Sylvia Akello, who is eyeing the Otuke woman MP slot, said she would run as an independent because people had assured her of block votes. “I was not defeated. The election was just rigged,†said Akello who lost to Annet Okwenye.
Akello added that if she let Okwenye stand, it would be like giving Otuke to the opposition, especially the UPC. But Okwenye hit back saying her votes were clean and those claiming rigging were failures.
Christine Acen who was beaten by MP Rebecca Amuge Otengo in Alebtong, says she won in seven sub-counties but was shocked to discover that she did not go through.
Kenneth Olelo, a former political assistant to lands minister Daniel Omara Atubo whom he also contested against, wants fresh elections.
“I have sent my petition citing massive maltipractices,†Olelo he said on phone.
Atubo described Olelo’s petition as ‘nonsense’ and said his claim of maltipractices did not hold water.
Other petitioners are John Baptist Ogwal for Otuke LC5 and Patrick Okello for Omoro LC5 councillor.
Additional reporting by Anne Mugisa