Vote counting on, 12 arrested in Kamuli by-election

By Joseph Kizza

KAMULI - Provisional results coming in from different polling stations are placing FDC flagbearer Saalamu Musumba way ahead of her main challenger, NRM's Thomas Katengere in the race for the Kamuli LCV seat.

Towards the election D-day, it was clear that the two party flag-bearers had pulled their weight farther ahead of the six other contestants and had gotten Kamuli residents readied for a tight race.

But preliminary results are now showing that Musumba is way ahead of the pack, and predictably looks set for a comfortable victory.

Head-to-head: In Namwendwa sub-county Musumba has 2725 while Kategere has returned 892 votes, in Kamuli trading centre Musumba 2849, Kategere 622, in Bulopa sub-county Musumba 2812, Kategere 800 and from Wankole sub-county Musumba has collected 1925 while Kategere managed 951.

However, the Electoral Commission is expected to announce the final results before dawn.

The other six hopeful are Kaloli Dhizaala, Michael Kifubangabo, Charles Isanga, Fred Kamaniro, Fred Bamutiire and Ibrahim Mbadhi.

There were pointed references to some incidents of violence in an election whose voting started early Thursday morning. Twelve people have since been arrested over election violence.

The seat fell vacant in 2011 when court nullified the election of Kawugu Kawooya over lack of academic qualifications.