Kween NRM losers want results nullified
TEN parliamentary and local council NRM candidates in Kween district, who lost in the primary polls, have petitioned the party electoral commission to nullify the results of the elections.
By Daniel Edyegu and Rashid Muzungyo
TEN parliamentary and local council NRM candidates in Kween district, who lost in the primary polls, have petitioned the party electoral commission to nullify the results of the elections.
In the August 31 letter copied to the party secretary general, Amama Mbabazi, the aggrieved contestants argued that the elections were riddled with irregularities.
They cited the massive rigging at Kapterit polling station in Ngenge sub-county that had over 3,000 ballot papers and 50 declaration forms stolen, They also cited the direct involvement of the district party chairman, Lawrence Mangusho, in the supervision of the polls, inadequate ballot papers and lack of declaration forms in Kwosir sub-county.
At Chepkwutus, Kere and Sosur polling stations in Kwosir sub-county, the petitioners said the voting was done in the bushes and election officials dismissed some candidates’ agents from the stations.
They added that voting had stretched beyond the stipulated date and fake ballot papers were used at some polling stations.
By 4:00pm on Wednesday, voting was still on in Kaptoyoy parish in Binyiny sub-county and Girik parish in Ngenge sub-county.
The petitioners included Christopher Cherukut, the district LC5 aspirant, Fred Yesho, the Binyiny LC3 aspirant, William Chesilyong, the Keen county parliamentary aspirant and district Woman MP aspirants Phylis Yeko, Benna Arapta, Rose Cherukut, Lydia Bariteka, Betty Cherotich, Mary Chebanan and Kasifa Cherotich.
The Wednesday provisional results indicated that Kisosi Chemaswet, a former guild president at the Islamic University in Uganda Mbale campus, was leading the incumbent Kween county MP Dr. John Yeko in the race.
Lawrence Mangusho, the district party chief was leading his opponent Christopher Cheruku for the LC5 flag-bearer, while Sharifa Chemusto, a former senior nursing officer with the Islamic University, led seven others in the race for the district Woman MP.
The party electoral commission was hesitant to declare the winners for fear of provoking violence among the supporters of candidates that camped outside the district headquarters in Binyiny sub-county.
The petitioners argued that if upheld, the election results would imply that the “abortion of party democracy, creation of ghost leaders without the people’s mandate and abuse of patriotism†were acceptable in the NRM party.
But Mangusho said the voting process delayed due to the hilly terrain in some parts of the district that hampered timely delivery of election materials.
TEN parliamentary and local council NRM candidates in Kween district, who lost in the primary polls, have petitioned the party electoral commission to nullify the results of the elections.
In the August 31 letter copied to the party secretary general, Amama Mbabazi, the aggrieved contestants argued that the elections were riddled with irregularities.
They cited the massive rigging at Kapterit polling station in Ngenge sub-county that had over 3,000 ballot papers and 50 declaration forms stolen, They also cited the direct involvement of the district party chairman, Lawrence Mangusho, in the supervision of the polls, inadequate ballot papers and lack of declaration forms in Kwosir sub-county.
At Chepkwutus, Kere and Sosur polling stations in Kwosir sub-county, the petitioners said the voting was done in the bushes and election officials dismissed some candidates’ agents from the stations.
They added that voting had stretched beyond the stipulated date and fake ballot papers were used at some polling stations.
By 4:00pm on Wednesday, voting was still on in Kaptoyoy parish in Binyiny sub-county and Girik parish in Ngenge sub-county.
The petitioners included Christopher Cherukut, the district LC5 aspirant, Fred Yesho, the Binyiny LC3 aspirant, William Chesilyong, the Keen county parliamentary aspirant and district Woman MP aspirants Phylis Yeko, Benna Arapta, Rose Cherukut, Lydia Bariteka, Betty Cherotich, Mary Chebanan and Kasifa Cherotich.
The Wednesday provisional results indicated that Kisosi Chemaswet, a former guild president at the Islamic University in Uganda Mbale campus, was leading the incumbent Kween county MP Dr. John Yeko in the race.
Lawrence Mangusho, the district party chief was leading his opponent Christopher Cheruku for the LC5 flag-bearer, while Sharifa Chemusto, a former senior nursing officer with the Islamic University, led seven others in the race for the district Woman MP.
The party electoral commission was hesitant to declare the winners for fear of provoking violence among the supporters of candidates that camped outside the district headquarters in Binyiny sub-county.
The petitioners argued that if upheld, the election results would imply that the “abortion of party democracy, creation of ghost leaders without the people’s mandate and abuse of patriotism†were acceptable in the NRM party.
But Mangusho said the voting process delayed due to the hilly terrain in some parts of the district that hampered timely delivery of election materials.