Ian Kyeyune to stand as independent after losing party primaries

NRM PRIMARIES |

The former LC5 chairperson and former Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Wakiso district Ian Kyeyune has vowed to stand as an independent candidate for Wakiso district seat.

Kyeyune revealed this after noting what he called injustices against him during the NRM party primaries on Friday.

Kyeyune who arrived to cast his vote at Nabweru South ward 1 at around 10.30 am, found the LC1 chairperson of the area Dorothy Nankya reading out names on the party register.

His supporters complained to him that they had been denied entry to the voting area at Zimbena gardens at Nabweru.

Kyeyune's name was read but he declined to enter saying he could not enter after his supporters had been turned away.

It was at this point that some of his supporters asked him to stand independently, an idea Kyeyune bought immediately.

"I think I need to do that because there is a lot of injustice in today's primaries. Nankya is only reading those who support my opponent Mayanja, leaving my supporters outside," Kyeyune said .

As if this was not enough, Kyeyune moved closer to some policemen seeking justice and asked them to order those who were already inside the voting place to come out so that names could be read afresh but this did not happen as policemen ignored him.

One of the residents identified as Sulaiman Mulumba said what happened was bad adding that there was no transparency.

According to Mulumba, elections are normally conducted from playgrounds and he wondered why they choose a closed place where voters would be locked out.

Another resident called John Mugaya complained that Nankya did not follow the party president's directive of allowing all the party members to vote even though they do not appear on the register.

Nankya, who was accused of being selective while reading the names of the voters said Kyeyune just feared the race.

"Kyeyune, do not fear the race please enters inside and we win you properly," she Nankya.

The presiding officer Nazir Mwanje declared Moses Mayanja the winner with 912 votes against Ian Kyeyune who got nothing.

Mwanje admitted that he was assisted by the NRM village committee who identified the true party members but they were selective.

He added that there was some violence which he attributed to Kyeyune's supporters.

Kyeyune's supporters were threatening to beat Mayanja's supporters after voting who were mostly women.

Police found it challenging to open the gate for Mayanja's supporters after voting.

This forced them to use tear gas and live bullets to disperse Kyeyune's supporters and create way for Mayanja's supporters.

The gate was opened amidst tear gas and police advised everyone to go home.

Kyeyune also shared on the tear gas and ran back to his home, which is a few meters away from the polling station.