Eight arrested in Pallisa over polls
EIGHT well-built men, locally known as <i>Kanyamas</i>, hired from Kampala to guard the votes for one of the candidates in Pallisa, were yesterday arrested by the Police. The suspects, who included Makerere University student Kenneth Amanya, said they were hired to come to Pallisa to ensure that the
By Nathan Etengu
in Pallisa
EIGHT well-built men, locally known as Kanyamas, hired from Kampala to guard the votes for one of the candidates in Pallisa, were yesterday arrested by the Police. The suspects, who included Makerere University student Kenneth Amanya, said they were hired to come to Pallisa to ensure that the votes for Issa Taligola were not stolen.
“We were promised sh30,000 each and we came about 70 in number aboard three coasters,†Amanya told The New Vision at Pallisa Police Station. He said they had not yet been given the money by the time they were arrested.
Amanya, who was in the company of seven others, said they were picked from different parts of Kampala on Wednesday.
Others arrested included Ahamada Nsubuga from Lubaga division, Dennis Ogwang, Muhammed Nyago and Isma Kabazzi from Makindye, and Musa Muwanga from Bugema in Mbale.
Taligola confirmed that he hired the men from Kampala to assist him monitor the elections and guard his votes. He contested for the Pallisa district chairperson’s seat against NRM candidate Patrick Mutono.
“When we learnt that they were being harassed, we informed the Police to go to their rescue. The Police instead went and arrested them,†Taligola said.
But Police commander Willy Mutabingwa said the suspects were picked up after former personal assistant to Col. Kizza Besigye, Patrick Wakida, claimed that two of his people had been killed in Kagumu trading centre. He said the report was found not true.
“I sent a team there and found out that the eight suspects had been captured by a mob that had roughed them up,†Mutabingwa said.
Earlier, four of Taligola’s supporters were held briefly over allegations that they harassed voters. The Police said the suspects were released after the allegations were found baseless. “All these allegations were false. I think some of these people should in future be charged for giving false information to the Police,†Mutabingwa said.
Apart from these incidents, the polling exercise went ahead undisturbed. Polling stations opened on time and the turn-up, initially low, picked up in the course of the afternoon.
The chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Badru Kiggundu, said all the polling stations he visited in Pallisa and Butebo reported no incidents of harassment or beating.
“So far the exercise is good and peaceful,†Kiggundu said at Kanginima Polling station, 40km east of Pallisa town.
in Pallisa
EIGHT well-built men, locally known as Kanyamas, hired from Kampala to guard the votes for one of the candidates in Pallisa, were yesterday arrested by the Police. The suspects, who included Makerere University student Kenneth Amanya, said they were hired to come to Pallisa to ensure that the votes for Issa Taligola were not stolen.
“We were promised sh30,000 each and we came about 70 in number aboard three coasters,†Amanya told The New Vision at Pallisa Police Station. He said they had not yet been given the money by the time they were arrested.
Amanya, who was in the company of seven others, said they were picked from different parts of Kampala on Wednesday.
Others arrested included Ahamada Nsubuga from Lubaga division, Dennis Ogwang, Muhammed Nyago and Isma Kabazzi from Makindye, and Musa Muwanga from Bugema in Mbale.
Taligola confirmed that he hired the men from Kampala to assist him monitor the elections and guard his votes. He contested for the Pallisa district chairperson’s seat against NRM candidate Patrick Mutono.
“When we learnt that they were being harassed, we informed the Police to go to their rescue. The Police instead went and arrested them,†Taligola said.
But Police commander Willy Mutabingwa said the suspects were picked up after former personal assistant to Col. Kizza Besigye, Patrick Wakida, claimed that two of his people had been killed in Kagumu trading centre. He said the report was found not true.
“I sent a team there and found out that the eight suspects had been captured by a mob that had roughed them up,†Mutabingwa said.
Earlier, four of Taligola’s supporters were held briefly over allegations that they harassed voters. The Police said the suspects were released after the allegations were found baseless. “All these allegations were false. I think some of these people should in future be charged for giving false information to the Police,†Mutabingwa said.
Apart from these incidents, the polling exercise went ahead undisturbed. Polling stations opened on time and the turn-up, initially low, picked up in the course of the afternoon.
The chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Badru Kiggundu, said all the polling stations he visited in Pallisa and Butebo reported no incidents of harassment or beating.
“So far the exercise is good and peaceful,†Kiggundu said at Kanginima Polling station, 40km east of Pallisa town.