DP criticizes EC for postponing Bukanga polls

By Jeff Andrew Lule                     

The Democratic Party (DP) has criticized the Electoral Commission’s (EC) move to postpone the nominations for the Bukanga county MP by-election, alleging that it is a deliberate move to disorganize the opposition.

Party’s presidential press secretary, Fred Mwesigwa told a news conference in Kampala that EC must compensate for the lost days to allow them campaign fairly.

“Some of us hired the public address systems and sent teams to kick off the campaigns immediately after nominations. But we have been disrupted,” he said.

EC postponed the nominations, saying that the ministry of finance had delayed to release sh300m needed for the entire by-election. The nomination was pushed from November 5 to 6 to November 11 and 12. However, the polling day remains unchanged November 26.

The seat fell vacant following the sudden death of Glegory Matovu in September.

Mwesigwa dismissed EC’s allegations of delayed funds asserting that the whole move is aimed at giving enough time for NRM to decide on their candidate following the contested party primaries.

NRM declared Nathan Byanyima as their flag bearer who is likely to face the late Matovu’s daughter Jacqueline Asiimwe who plans to contest as an independent and DP’s Dembe Shafik among other contestants.

“We know NRM asked for more time to convince Asiimwe to pull out and others who are contesting the results of their primaries to avoid dividing their votes. It is unfair because the program was known to everyone,” Mwesigwa noted.

He said Bukanga County is big with 135 polling stations, which needs more days to cover the entire constituencies.
EC’s spokesperson, Jotham Talemwa dismissed the allegations saying the re-arrangement had nothing to do with NRM or any party activities.