Kahinda Otafiire’s poll results withheld

Sep 08, 2010

THE NRM Secretariat has instructed the Mitooma NRM office not to release election results for the Ruhinda constituency flag-bearer, where the incumbent, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire and minister for trade, is facing stiff competition.

By Chris Mugasha

THE NRM Secretariat has instructed the Mitooma NRM office not to release election results for the Ruhinda constituency flag-bearer, where the incumbent, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire and minister for trade, is facing stiff competition.

The Mitooma district NRM registrar, Ephraim Kyabakama, said he was instructed by the NRM secretariat not to release any information, until allegations of fraud are settled.
“If you want any information, consult the party headquarters,” Kyabakama said yesterday.

A number of irregularities were reported in the poll that took place on Saturday. Although voting and vote counting ended, the returning officer has not declared the winner or loser.

The district NRM party chairman, Tiito Nsigeireho, said they had resolved to withhold the results to investigate the allegations.

“We suspect there were a lot of malpractices, that’s why we cannot announce who has won or lost,” he added.

However, Otafiire declared himself winner yesterday.
“I won and I finished that. I am now campaigning for the post of secretary general, so leave me and ask the registrar.”

Earlier on, his rivals in the race for Ruhinda constituency and those contesting for the district woman seat objected to the release of the results, until the NRM secretariat intervened.

They accused Otafiire of interfering with the election process by taking over the role of the district registrar, while his people intimidated, harassed and bribed other candidates’ supporters.

Otafiire’s main challenger Chris Gumisiriza accused the minister of conniving with the electoral officials to alter results which had put him (Gumisiriza) in the lead.

He asked the secretariat to send independent investigators to validate the results submitted by registrars in Kashenshero, Kiyanga, Bitereko, Mitooma and Kanyabwanga sub- counties.

“We suspect the registrars altered the results on declaration forms by changing votes in favour of Otafiire,” Gumisiriza told a press conference yesterday.

Maclean Kyamutetera and Juliet Agasha Bashisha, who are among the five women eyeing the district woman seat, said they rejected the results because there were different cases of malpractices.

Other women in the race are Enid Rubegyemera, Jackline Arinaitwe and Jova Kamateka, who is reported to be in the lead.

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