NRM beefs up security ahead of polls
Aug 29, 2010
THE ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has beefed up security at violence-prone areas ahead of today’s primaries. Over 1,500 candidates are vying for Parliament and local government seats.
By Mary Karugaba and Henry Mukasa
THE ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has beefed up security at violence-prone areas ahead of today’s primaries. Over 1,500 candidates are vying for Parliament and local government seats.
NRM electoral commissioner Lydia Wanyoto yesterday said the heavy deployment followed violent acts that marred the branch elections early this month.
Wanyoto said the party had identified “hotspot’ areas and had warned candidates against inciting violence.
“We don’t want any more violence. We have deployed enough security in these areas and hope the elections will be peaceful,†she said.
The hotspots include Sembabule, Kibaale, Kabale, Rukungiri, Pallisa, Kibuku, Budaka Butaleja, Kamuli, Masaka, Bushenyi and Wakiso districts.
Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura has pitched camp in Ssembabule. At least 200 heavily armed personnel and anti-riot Police have been deployed to counter the anticipated violence.
The Police has also deployed in Butaleja, where 12 people were seriously injured during branch elections last month. Fighting for supremacy here are NRM deputy secretary general Dorothy Hyuha and Bunyole MP Emmanuel Dombo. Each accuses the other of planting aspirants to unseat the other.
Millions of NRM party members will throng polling stations country wide from 8:30am to 4:00pm to vote leaders who will compete with other political parties’ representatives in next year’s national elections.
Elections will be under adult members’ suffrage and not electoral colleges used in the previously. Candidates whose academic papers have been questioned such as Ssembabule Woman MP Anifa Kawooya and primary education minister Kamanda Bataringaya are still in the race.
Sembabule
Sembabule has in the past years captured the label of “boiling point of Uganda’s politics.â€
The political rivalry between the camp of the foreign affairs minister, Sam Kutesa, and the Lwemiyaga county MP, Theodore Sekikubo, has reached its peak.
By yesterday, hotels in the districts were fully booked by senior security personnel, party election authorities and election observers.
Bunyoro region
Districts in Bunyoro had peaceful campaigns though tight competition is expected in Kibaale district. In Buyanja constituency, Internal affairs minister Matia Kasaijja faces former minister Baguma Isoke. The two disagreed and abandoned joint campaigns.
In Buyaga West, six aspirants are in the race. They include former MP Ignatius Besisira, former minister Kasirivu Atwooki and four new entrants
Kabale.
The primaries in Kabale have attracted tension as candidates traversed several areas cavassing for votes. Three ministers Ahabwe Pereza (local government), Serapio Rukundo (tourism) and Hope Mwesigye (agriculture) are in the race and face stiff competition.
Kisoro
The district woman parliamentary seat has become a hot contest as the incumbent Eudia Kwizera faces stiff competition from Sarah Mateke, a daughter of Dr. Philemon Mateke, the outgoing Kisoro LC5 chairman.
Ethics minister Nsaba Buturo is battling it out with Eddie Kwizera. Kwizera’s supporters recently clashed with Buturo at a rally.
Lira
Campaigns ended peacefully in most parts of Lango sub region. The incumbent Oyam LC5 Rtd Col. Charles Okello Engola is battling it out with Robert Ogwara, the district LC5 councillor, and Okello Makmot, a former commissioner of Police.
Otuke
Lands minister Daniel Omara Atubo’s political life could be ended by his former political assistant Kenneth Olelo and Milton Ocen, a student of Makerere University.
Budaka
The incumbent LC5 chairperson, Sam Mulomi, was admitted at Mt. Elgon Hospital in Mbale after he was allegedly attacked by a group of people while on his campaign trail in Bulumbi village in Budaka sub-county on Saturday.
Tororo
Over 9,000 voters in West Budama constituency will not participate in today’s elections after one of the candidates, Jacob Oboth, secured a court injunction stopping elections in Iyolwa sub-county.
Oboth is contesting against the incumbent labour state minister, Dr. Emmanuel Otala.
Kasese
Business came to a stand still as thousands of supporters jammed the streets, chanting praises to their candidates.
Those vying for the district chairmanship are Rev. Can. Julius Kithaghenda, Lt. Col. Dula Mawa Muhindo, Joshua Masereka and former district woman MP Loice Biira Bwambale.
Kabarole
The LC1 chairperson of Kagote B in West Division, Fort Portal municipality, Mohammed Isingoma, was arrested on Saturday night after he was caught allegedly tearing out pages of registered people from the NRM Yellow Book.
In the municipality, the battle is between MP Steven Kaliba and Alex Ruhunda.
Bundibugyo
Opponents of primary education state minister Dr. Kamanda Bataringaya, have vowed to stop today’s election, saying he lacks academic papers.
Kamwenge
Kibaale county MP Frank Tumwebaze’s challenger Aggrey Natuhamya complained that in some areas, the registers were not displayed for people to cross check their names.
In Kitagwenda county, MP Nulu Byamukama boycotted joint rallies in Nyabani sub-county, the home of one of his opponents Spencer George.
Soroti
Former minister Capt. Mike Mukula wants to make a come back in Soroti Municipality.He is contesting against George William Ekallo, an audit consultant in Kampala, and Stanley Eroku, a former Police officer.
THE ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has beefed up security at violence-prone areas ahead of today’s primaries. Over 1,500 candidates are vying for Parliament and local government seats.
NRM electoral commissioner Lydia Wanyoto yesterday said the heavy deployment followed violent acts that marred the branch elections early this month.
Wanyoto said the party had identified “hotspot’ areas and had warned candidates against inciting violence.
“We don’t want any more violence. We have deployed enough security in these areas and hope the elections will be peaceful,†she said.
The hotspots include Sembabule, Kibaale, Kabale, Rukungiri, Pallisa, Kibuku, Budaka Butaleja, Kamuli, Masaka, Bushenyi and Wakiso districts.
Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura has pitched camp in Ssembabule. At least 200 heavily armed personnel and anti-riot Police have been deployed to counter the anticipated violence.
The Police has also deployed in Butaleja, where 12 people were seriously injured during branch elections last month. Fighting for supremacy here are NRM deputy secretary general Dorothy Hyuha and Bunyole MP Emmanuel Dombo. Each accuses the other of planting aspirants to unseat the other.
Millions of NRM party members will throng polling stations country wide from 8:30am to 4:00pm to vote leaders who will compete with other political parties’ representatives in next year’s national elections.
Elections will be under adult members’ suffrage and not electoral colleges used in the previously. Candidates whose academic papers have been questioned such as Ssembabule Woman MP Anifa Kawooya and primary education minister Kamanda Bataringaya are still in the race.
Sembabule
Sembabule has in the past years captured the label of “boiling point of Uganda’s politics.â€
The political rivalry between the camp of the foreign affairs minister, Sam Kutesa, and the Lwemiyaga county MP, Theodore Sekikubo, has reached its peak.
By yesterday, hotels in the districts were fully booked by senior security personnel, party election authorities and election observers.
Bunyoro region
Districts in Bunyoro had peaceful campaigns though tight competition is expected in Kibaale district. In Buyanja constituency, Internal affairs minister Matia Kasaijja faces former minister Baguma Isoke. The two disagreed and abandoned joint campaigns.
In Buyaga West, six aspirants are in the race. They include former MP Ignatius Besisira, former minister Kasirivu Atwooki and four new entrants
Kabale.
The primaries in Kabale have attracted tension as candidates traversed several areas cavassing for votes. Three ministers Ahabwe Pereza (local government), Serapio Rukundo (tourism) and Hope Mwesigye (agriculture) are in the race and face stiff competition.
Kisoro
The district woman parliamentary seat has become a hot contest as the incumbent Eudia Kwizera faces stiff competition from Sarah Mateke, a daughter of Dr. Philemon Mateke, the outgoing Kisoro LC5 chairman.
Ethics minister Nsaba Buturo is battling it out with Eddie Kwizera. Kwizera’s supporters recently clashed with Buturo at a rally.
Lira
Campaigns ended peacefully in most parts of Lango sub region. The incumbent Oyam LC5 Rtd Col. Charles Okello Engola is battling it out with Robert Ogwara, the district LC5 councillor, and Okello Makmot, a former commissioner of Police.
Otuke
Lands minister Daniel Omara Atubo’s political life could be ended by his former political assistant Kenneth Olelo and Milton Ocen, a student of Makerere University.
Budaka
The incumbent LC5 chairperson, Sam Mulomi, was admitted at Mt. Elgon Hospital in Mbale after he was allegedly attacked by a group of people while on his campaign trail in Bulumbi village in Budaka sub-county on Saturday.
Tororo
Over 9,000 voters in West Budama constituency will not participate in today’s elections after one of the candidates, Jacob Oboth, secured a court injunction stopping elections in Iyolwa sub-county.
Oboth is contesting against the incumbent labour state minister, Dr. Emmanuel Otala.
Kasese
Business came to a stand still as thousands of supporters jammed the streets, chanting praises to their candidates.
Those vying for the district chairmanship are Rev. Can. Julius Kithaghenda, Lt. Col. Dula Mawa Muhindo, Joshua Masereka and former district woman MP Loice Biira Bwambale.
Kabarole
The LC1 chairperson of Kagote B in West Division, Fort Portal municipality, Mohammed Isingoma, was arrested on Saturday night after he was caught allegedly tearing out pages of registered people from the NRM Yellow Book.
In the municipality, the battle is between MP Steven Kaliba and Alex Ruhunda.
Bundibugyo
Opponents of primary education state minister Dr. Kamanda Bataringaya, have vowed to stop today’s election, saying he lacks academic papers.
Kamwenge
Kibaale county MP Frank Tumwebaze’s challenger Aggrey Natuhamya complained that in some areas, the registers were not displayed for people to cross check their names.
In Kitagwenda county, MP Nulu Byamukama boycotted joint rallies in Nyabani sub-county, the home of one of his opponents Spencer George.
Soroti
Former minister Capt. Mike Mukula wants to make a come back in Soroti Municipality.He is contesting against George William Ekallo, an audit consultant in Kampala, and Stanley Eroku, a former Police officer.