Pallisa Election Official Arrested

By Jonathan AnguraPolice in Pallisa district yesterday arrested an election presiding officer and his polling assistants for allegedly stuffing ticked ballot papers into a ballot box.An LC1 official of Nangaiza village in Bulangira sub-county, was also arrested for reportedly stopping voters from going to vote. The District Police Commander, Dan Ayebare, said Yafesi Mweru, a presiding officer in Kagweri polling station in Kadama sub,county together with polling assistants, John Gonsya and Moses Fiire, were being held.The name of the candidate for whom they had ticked in the ballot papers could not be established because the ballot box was immediately sealed and the Police had no authority to open it.The LC1 official, Mohammed Kiirya, was arrested over the reports that he was luring people not to go to vote.Ayebare, however, said the exercise was peaceful.The Resident District Commissioner, Geoffrey Kyomukama, said security had been tightened in the district.By 3:00pm an estimated 52% voters had cast their ballots. The district registrar, Leonard Mulekwa, said election materials were got early and voting had started in time.Ends