Bakaluba, Nambooze in tight poll race
May 26, 2010
RESIDENTS of Mukono North yesterday voted in a by-election where NRM’s Peter Bakaluba Mukasa faced stiff competition from opposition candidate Betty Nambooze.
By Henry Mukasa
and John Ssemakula
RESIDENTS of Mukono North yesterday voted in a by-election where NRM’s Peter Bakaluba Mukasa faced stiff competition from opposition candidate Betty Nambooze.
Voters trickled in at various polling stations in the sub-counties of Nama, Goma, Kyampisi and Mukono Town Council that make up the constituency. Security was tight. By press tine the two were reportedly running neck-and-neck.
Bakaluba Mukasa, wearing a black suit and his priestly dog-collar, cast his vote at Bajjo B polling station in Goma sub-county at 10:07am. He lost his seat after the Supreme Court ruled he was guilty of election malpractices in 2006 election. Yesterday, he sounded confident of victory. “We are heading for a landslide,†he stated flashing a thumb-up victory sign for NRM.
Nambooze, dressed in a brown long dress, was driven to vote by her husband, Henry Bakireke. After casting her vote at Ssekiboobo Primary School in Ggulu ward at 10:30am, Nambooze said she hoped the Electoral Commission (EC) chairman would not, like in 2006, deny the residents their preferred choice of MP. “We will win this election,†Nambooze stated.
Other candidates in the race were Pastor Matthew Talemwa, Charles Jjingo, John Ssebunnya, Zimula Mukwanya and Zirimala Kiggundu. They all stood as independents.
EC chairman Badru Kiggundu and commissioners Tom Buruku and Thomas Sisye Kiryapawo supervised the voting process.
At several polling stations voters complained about missing names on the register, delay of the delivery of election materials and the presence of people claiming to be election officials.
A voter at Seeta COU polling station, who found that someone had already voted in his name, was cleared to vote by commissioner Joseph Biribonwa to cool tempers.
“Some people are bad-hearted that’s why they have voted in the names of others. If caught, they should be arrested,†he directed.
Commenting on the overall exercise, Kiggundu said the turn-up was lower than expected. About 73,663 voters are registered in Mukono North. “The election was peaceful; I am contented,†Kiggundu remarked.
President Yoweri Museveni directed the heavy deployment of Police ahead of the elections. Kiggundu said yesterday the commission had asked for the security. “Security was important considering the threats during the campaigns,†he stated.
Earlier, Nambooze and Bakaluba camps traded accusations of vote-rigging, harassment of supporters and infringement by security agencies and government operatives.
Nambooze accused the NRM camp of orchestrating the arrest of her campaign chairman, Joseph Wamala, and DP officials from Zebra Guest House.
She said the arrest of DP vice-chairperson for western region, Imam Muhwezi Mukumbi, and councillor Maxentia Nakanjakko was intended to scuttle her camp’s election monitoring plans.
The deputy Police spokesperson, Henry Kalulu, said the officials were arrested and cautioned. He would not say what crime they had committed, or who arrested them, but asserted: “They are free.â€
Nambooze said they had assembled motorcycles to escort election officials delivering materials at 3:00am, to the 149 polling stations.
“Of course, they have spies in my camp and knew about our plan. The intention of these arrests was to disorganise us and throw us into panic,†Nambooze said. “But we quickly regrouped.â€
Nambooze said her agents in Kikubankima and Kirangira had been arrested by Maj. Segujja. She added that an impostor had taken over a polling station in Ssonde, conducted elections and was only found out to be fake when the presiding officer arrived.
“Our people arrested him and was handed over to Seeta Police Station,†she said.
On his part, Bakaluba Mukasa said 10 people were arrested trying to vote with identity cards for Kampala Central Division. They also had appointment letters as agents of Nambooze, he said.
Deputy Police spokesperson Kalulu said two people, Isma Kawere of Kiwanga and David Munale, were arrested over election related cases.
Munale, a resident of William Street in Kampala, was arrested at Kigombya polling station for allegedly having multiple voters’ cards. Kalulu said Munale is a registered voter of Nakasero IV parish in Kampala Central.
However, Kawere and Munale told journalists at Mukono Police Station that they were framed. “When I reported at the polling station before voting started, men came in a Prado vehicle and asked me for identification. When I gave it to them, they dragged me into the car and sped off. I realised we were on Kayunga road where there was a yellow bus used by (Kakooza) Mutale,†Munale said.
Residents expressed mixed feelings about the polls. Jackson Ochieng of Kigunga said he was happy the voting was peaceful. Ivan Kibirango of Seeta said the tight security ensured no rigging.
Janita Nalutaaya of Seeta, however, commented: “My name was missing on the register. I am sad I have not voted.â€
and John Ssemakula
RESIDENTS of Mukono North yesterday voted in a by-election where NRM’s Peter Bakaluba Mukasa faced stiff competition from opposition candidate Betty Nambooze.
Voters trickled in at various polling stations in the sub-counties of Nama, Goma, Kyampisi and Mukono Town Council that make up the constituency. Security was tight. By press tine the two were reportedly running neck-and-neck.
Bakaluba Mukasa, wearing a black suit and his priestly dog-collar, cast his vote at Bajjo B polling station in Goma sub-county at 10:07am. He lost his seat after the Supreme Court ruled he was guilty of election malpractices in 2006 election. Yesterday, he sounded confident of victory. “We are heading for a landslide,†he stated flashing a thumb-up victory sign for NRM.
Nambooze, dressed in a brown long dress, was driven to vote by her husband, Henry Bakireke. After casting her vote at Ssekiboobo Primary School in Ggulu ward at 10:30am, Nambooze said she hoped the Electoral Commission (EC) chairman would not, like in 2006, deny the residents their preferred choice of MP. “We will win this election,†Nambooze stated.
Other candidates in the race were Pastor Matthew Talemwa, Charles Jjingo, John Ssebunnya, Zimula Mukwanya and Zirimala Kiggundu. They all stood as independents.
EC chairman Badru Kiggundu and commissioners Tom Buruku and Thomas Sisye Kiryapawo supervised the voting process.
At several polling stations voters complained about missing names on the register, delay of the delivery of election materials and the presence of people claiming to be election officials.
A voter at Seeta COU polling station, who found that someone had already voted in his name, was cleared to vote by commissioner Joseph Biribonwa to cool tempers.
“Some people are bad-hearted that’s why they have voted in the names of others. If caught, they should be arrested,†he directed.
Commenting on the overall exercise, Kiggundu said the turn-up was lower than expected. About 73,663 voters are registered in Mukono North. “The election was peaceful; I am contented,†Kiggundu remarked.
President Yoweri Museveni directed the heavy deployment of Police ahead of the elections. Kiggundu said yesterday the commission had asked for the security. “Security was important considering the threats during the campaigns,†he stated.
Earlier, Nambooze and Bakaluba camps traded accusations of vote-rigging, harassment of supporters and infringement by security agencies and government operatives.
Nambooze accused the NRM camp of orchestrating the arrest of her campaign chairman, Joseph Wamala, and DP officials from Zebra Guest House.
She said the arrest of DP vice-chairperson for western region, Imam Muhwezi Mukumbi, and councillor Maxentia Nakanjakko was intended to scuttle her camp’s election monitoring plans.
The deputy Police spokesperson, Henry Kalulu, said the officials were arrested and cautioned. He would not say what crime they had committed, or who arrested them, but asserted: “They are free.â€
Nambooze said they had assembled motorcycles to escort election officials delivering materials at 3:00am, to the 149 polling stations.
“Of course, they have spies in my camp and knew about our plan. The intention of these arrests was to disorganise us and throw us into panic,†Nambooze said. “But we quickly regrouped.â€
Nambooze said her agents in Kikubankima and Kirangira had been arrested by Maj. Segujja. She added that an impostor had taken over a polling station in Ssonde, conducted elections and was only found out to be fake when the presiding officer arrived.
“Our people arrested him and was handed over to Seeta Police Station,†she said.
On his part, Bakaluba Mukasa said 10 people were arrested trying to vote with identity cards for Kampala Central Division. They also had appointment letters as agents of Nambooze, he said.
Deputy Police spokesperson Kalulu said two people, Isma Kawere of Kiwanga and David Munale, were arrested over election related cases.
Munale, a resident of William Street in Kampala, was arrested at Kigombya polling station for allegedly having multiple voters’ cards. Kalulu said Munale is a registered voter of Nakasero IV parish in Kampala Central.
However, Kawere and Munale told journalists at Mukono Police Station that they were framed. “When I reported at the polling station before voting started, men came in a Prado vehicle and asked me for identification. When I gave it to them, they dragged me into the car and sped off. I realised we were on Kayunga road where there was a yellow bus used by (Kakooza) Mutale,†Munale said.
Residents expressed mixed feelings about the polls. Jackson Ochieng of Kigunga said he was happy the voting was peaceful. Ivan Kibirango of Seeta said the tight security ensured no rigging.
Janita Nalutaaya of Seeta, however, commented: “My name was missing on the register. I am sad I have not voted.â€