Hoima: Teargas disrupts NRM Primaries

ELECTION WATCH|POLITICS|NRM|POLICE 

HOIMA - Confrontation between the anti-riot Police and voters was witnessed in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary elections in Hoima as people voted for flag-bearers in city divisions.

At some polling stations, due to violence, elections were called off because Police had to restrain themselves from the irate voters who accused each other of ferrying people from other villages to vote in polling stations where they should not.

At Sir Tito Winyi Stadium polling station, the Police stopped an unidentified man from causing confusion. He fought back and a scuffle ensued.

Tom Mpabaisi, the officer in charge of Hoima Police Station, was on the scene and tried to calm the situation, but his efforts were fruitless.

Martin Kiiza, the polling official at Sir Tito Winyi polling station, said the confusion could not allow him to continue with the elections.

"In this condition, conducting elections would be extremely difficult and we had to call it off," Kiiza said.

Gerald Kyosaba and Gabriel Dema were contesting as central ward councillor forHoima East Division. The elections at this polling station were called off.

Robert Ruhiigwa and Fred Kabagyo were neck-and-neck, by press time, for the western division mayor seat.

At Kezela polling station in Kiryateete East, Police also fired tear gas to disperse people who were protesting the results.

The officer in charge of operations at Hoima Police Station, Charles Mubbala, rushed to calm the situation at Kezala polling station, in vain. The people became even more rowdy. Teargas was used to disperse them.

Mubbale rescued the election officials and took them to the tally centre at Kitara Secondary School, under tight security.