Busiro votes MP
Jul 07, 2005
A brief brawl at Kajjansi polling station and complaints about missing names in the voters’ register was all that summed up the day in Busiro South as residents went to polls in a by-election.
By Henry Mukasa
and Paul Kiwuwa
A brief brawl at Kajjansi polling station and complaints about missing names in the voters’ register was all that summed up the day in Busiro South as residents went to polls in a by-election.
Preliminary results showed that democratic Party candidate, Joseph Balikuddembe, a lawyer had taken an early lead.
The constituency seat fell vacant when area MP Patrick Musisi died two months ago. Five people are vying to replace him including his son, Balikuddembe.
Others are Charles Ssenkubuge and Freda Mubanda riding on the Movement ticket and teachers, Fred Kiggundu and Herbert Ssekandi.
Tempers flared at Kajjansi playground when about 70 supporters of Balikuddembe claimed that a fake voters’ register was in use.
They hurled insults at the polling officials and vowed to abandon voting until a “proper register†is brought.
The Police defused the threats of violence and the situation normalised. An official from the Electoral commission (EC), Gladys Nduru, said people claiming that their names were not on the register either did not register or did not participate in the voter update exercise.
At Jjungo, the EC was forced to change some polling officials after an LDU, Musoke Kyandi, was accused of conniving with one camp to rig when he purported to be ticking ballots for the elderly and disabled.
Moses Mayanja, one of the monitors for Balikuddembe, claimed that at Nankonge and Bytakesu stations, some candidates’ agents had two registers.
Wakiso returning officer George Ntulume said the elections had been “generally okay.â€
Ends
and Paul Kiwuwa
A brief brawl at Kajjansi polling station and complaints about missing names in the voters’ register was all that summed up the day in Busiro South as residents went to polls in a by-election.
Preliminary results showed that democratic Party candidate, Joseph Balikuddembe, a lawyer had taken an early lead.
The constituency seat fell vacant when area MP Patrick Musisi died two months ago. Five people are vying to replace him including his son, Balikuddembe.
Others are Charles Ssenkubuge and Freda Mubanda riding on the Movement ticket and teachers, Fred Kiggundu and Herbert Ssekandi.
Tempers flared at Kajjansi playground when about 70 supporters of Balikuddembe claimed that a fake voters’ register was in use.
They hurled insults at the polling officials and vowed to abandon voting until a “proper register†is brought.
The Police defused the threats of violence and the situation normalised. An official from the Electoral commission (EC), Gladys Nduru, said people claiming that their names were not on the register either did not register or did not participate in the voter update exercise.
At Jjungo, the EC was forced to change some polling officials after an LDU, Musoke Kyandi, was accused of conniving with one camp to rig when he purported to be ticking ballots for the elderly and disabled.
Moses Mayanja, one of the monitors for Balikuddembe, claimed that at Nankonge and Bytakesu stations, some candidates’ agents had two registers.
Wakiso returning officer George Ntulume said the elections had been “generally okay.â€
Ends