Ministers probed over poll malpractice
Sep 01, 2010
STATE minister for industry the Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo is under investigation over election malpractices in Kaabong district.
By Mary Karugaba
STATE minister for industry the Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo is under investigation over election malpractices in Kaabong district.
This was after partial results from Kapedo sub-county, Lokodo’s home, showed that the minister received 9,317 votes against the registered 6,581 number of voters.
His competitors, Phillips Lukwang and Knoox Kamar, allegedly got no votes.
The minister is also being investigated for allegedly distributing election materials in the sub-counties, contrary to the law.
The district administrative secretary, Simon Lukwang, said there was evidence of rigging elections in the sub-counties of Kapedo and Kawalako.
“We are informed that the minister was the one distributing the election materials and civil servants were conducting the elections. They chased away the agents of other candidates. We are investigating these allegations,†Lukwang said.
Efforts to reach the minister were futile as his phone was switched off.
In Kaliro, state minister for trade Gagawala Wambuzi is also being investigated for causing commotion and stopping elections in the district without informing the authorities.
The NRM district administrative secretary, Eri Dyaka, said in Kiranga B, Gagawala kicked the ballot boxes after disagreeing with the election officials on whether the exercise should be stopped.
“He has a clique of saboteurs he moves with. He caused a lot of commotion and we had to cancel the elections in the whole district yet were ready to improvise. I strongly condemn this kind of behaviour from a dignified party member like him,†Dyaka said, adding that such people needed to be disciplined.
He said the party in the district had embarked on cleaning the voters’ register to establish the actual number of voters.
“We are sorting out our registers to find out the actual number of voters in the district. This will enable us request for enough materials to have a smooth exercise,†Dyaka said.
He added that if the NRM top electoral body responded in time, the elections would be held on Friday.
Dyaka disclosed that two polling officials in Bumanya sub-county were arrested after they were found with stolen blank ballot papers.
The Kaliro district Police commander, Jofram Mwesigwa, said investigations are still going on.
The district NRM chairperson, Elijah Kagoda, who is also the district LC5 chairperson, condemned the minister’s actions, saying as a leader, Gagawala should have left the people to decide on whom to elect rather than causing chaos.
STATE minister for industry the Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo is under investigation over election malpractices in Kaabong district.
This was after partial results from Kapedo sub-county, Lokodo’s home, showed that the minister received 9,317 votes against the registered 6,581 number of voters.
His competitors, Phillips Lukwang and Knoox Kamar, allegedly got no votes.
The minister is also being investigated for allegedly distributing election materials in the sub-counties, contrary to the law.
The district administrative secretary, Simon Lukwang, said there was evidence of rigging elections in the sub-counties of Kapedo and Kawalako.
“We are informed that the minister was the one distributing the election materials and civil servants were conducting the elections. They chased away the agents of other candidates. We are investigating these allegations,†Lukwang said.
Efforts to reach the minister were futile as his phone was switched off.
In Kaliro, state minister for trade Gagawala Wambuzi is also being investigated for causing commotion and stopping elections in the district without informing the authorities.
The NRM district administrative secretary, Eri Dyaka, said in Kiranga B, Gagawala kicked the ballot boxes after disagreeing with the election officials on whether the exercise should be stopped.
“He has a clique of saboteurs he moves with. He caused a lot of commotion and we had to cancel the elections in the whole district yet were ready to improvise. I strongly condemn this kind of behaviour from a dignified party member like him,†Dyaka said, adding that such people needed to be disciplined.
He said the party in the district had embarked on cleaning the voters’ register to establish the actual number of voters.
“We are sorting out our registers to find out the actual number of voters in the district. This will enable us request for enough materials to have a smooth exercise,†Dyaka said.
He added that if the NRM top electoral body responded in time, the elections would be held on Friday.
Dyaka disclosed that two polling officials in Bumanya sub-county were arrested after they were found with stolen blank ballot papers.
The Kaliro district Police commander, Jofram Mwesigwa, said investigations are still going on.
The district NRM chairperson, Elijah Kagoda, who is also the district LC5 chairperson, condemned the minister’s actions, saying as a leader, Gagawala should have left the people to decide on whom to elect rather than causing chaos.