Huge turnout in Butambala by-elections

Sep 12, 2012

Electoral and security logistics have been deployed in Butambala and Usuk to ensure successful by-elections as residents in the two counties go to polls today to elect their MPs.

By Henry Mukasa in Butambala

Voting is underway in the Butambala parliamentary by-election. The seat fell vacant when court nullified the election of NRM’s Faisal Kikulukunyu after conviction of voter bribery.

Kikulukunyu who is standing for possible re-election is facing a stiff contest from DP’s Muhammed Muwanga Kivumbi.

The EC and police commenced delivery of electoral materials to the 86 polling stations in the new district in the wee hours of the morning using EC double cabin pick-up trucks from other districts.

Voters waiting patiently for their turn to cast their votes. PHOTO: Arthur Kintu


The Butambala District Returning Officer, Mark Muganzi said the EC had overcome a slight delay in dispatching electoral materials and he said by 7:00am all materials were at the various polling stations.

“Right now people are voting. I want to assure people that the process will go on smoothly. We have established a complaints desk and appointed a supervisor for every polling station,” Muganzi commented.

However, a survey done by the New Vision showed that voting had delayed to start at Kabasanda in Kalamba sub-county, the gateway to Butambala from Mpigi district side. At 7:45am voters stood in groups talking in muted voices betraying a sense of disillusionment.

However, at Kibibi sub-county headquarters voting was underway and voters lined up in long queues for the multiple polling stations in the centre.

DP candidate Nicholas Oteger casting his vote as his colleague from DP looks on at St-Stephen SS Katakwi town council. PHOTO: Godfrey Ojore


Police has deployed heavily in the district’s six sub-counties of Gombe, Kibibi, Budde, Ngando, Kalamba and Bulo. Several police buses, patrol vehicles and anti-riot amoured vehicles have also been deployed.

At the moment, there is calm as voting progresses with no incident reported. The DPC Musa Kayongo declined to comment on the voting process saying he was “still too busy.”


Muwanga Kivumbi is slated to cast his vote at 9am at Bugoye while Kikulukunyu will vote mid-morning in Kalamba.

Meanwhile in Usuk there are eight candidates in the race namely; Proscovia Alengot Oromait (NRM), Charles Okure (FDC), Cecilia Anyakoit (UPC) and Nicholas Oteger (DP). Others are independent candidates; Charles Ojok Oleny , David Ariko, Ignatius Apuda Loyola, Emmanuel Epuat and Martin Anukur Bob Paul akileng.

The Usuk MP Seat fell vacant following the death of independent Michael Oromait. Proscovia Alengot Oromait, the daughter to the late mp who is standing on NRM ticket is competing with DP's Nicholas Otega, UPC's Anyokoit Cecilia, FDC's Charles Okure and other six independent candidates.




 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});