EC officials detained over Jinja polls released

Apr 15, 2018

Jinja municipality speaker Moses Bizitu, one of those released, had since Monday been detained at Kira Road Police Station in Wakiso district, while the rest were at Njeru, Nalufenya and the Jinja Central Police Stations.

PIC: Mwiru during a press conference in which he had announced a demonstration against the continued detention of his supporters and EC officials by the Police. (Credit: Jackie Nambogga)

POLITICS


JINJA - After spending four days in different Police cells, the 13 Electoral Commission (EC) officials and three local leaders, who were arrested over alleged involvement in election malpractices in the Jinja East byeelection have been released.

Jinja municipality speaker Moses Bizitu, one of those released, had since Monday been detained at Kira Road Police Station in Wakiso district, while the rest were at Njeru, Nalufenya and the Jinja Central Police Stations.

The two other leaders were Joseph Kintu, the Jinja central division councillor for Old Boma A and former Walukuba/Masese division LC3 chairperson, Musisi Kibugudhu, commonly known as Badman.

The 13 EC officials are Wilfred Kitala, Steven Kabole, Paul Kyagate, Bosco Gwaba, Jackson Kigenyi, Rogers Efudu, Juma Elemu, Abel Ekodel, Sandra Mpabulungi, Amina Jaden, Asha Namugaya, Judith Natokyo and Cathy Basuta.

On Friday, the Jinja East legislator, Paul Mwiru, April 13, filed a notice of motion at the Jinja Chief Magistrate's court, seeking immediate release the suspects.

Phiona Bizitu, the wife of Moses Bizitu, asking the Police to release her husband during the press conference. (Credit: Jackie Nambogga)

He had also mounted pressure during a press conference in which he had announced a peaceful demonstration on Monday.

Much as they were all released on Police bond, New Vision has learnt that the Jinja resident state attorney had not yet sanctioned the suspects' files by Friday to prefer possible charges.

It was also established that the files were still with the criminal investigations department headquarters.

Much as the EC officials were not part of his supporters, Mwiru explained that he was doing so as a human rights advocate.

Bizitu denied any dubious deeds in the just concluded polls, where Mwiru of the FDC party beat Nathan Igeme Nabeta of the ruling NRM with 6,654 against 5,043 votes in a race that attracted six other contenders.

He said these were games by NRM party leaders aimed at accounting for what they were given to spend during the exercise.

Bizitu said this was his first time to be detained for more than three days, but said they made him stronger.

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