Kabale NRM primaries: Voters reject results

ELECTIONS|POLITICS|NRM PRIMARIES

KABALE - Drama rocked Kabale district Rukiiko Hall, the district tally centre for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries.

The Wednesday night confusion came as supporters of John Kabengye, a contestant for the position of NRM flag-bearer for Kahungye sub-county LC3 seat, protested the results, citing electoral malpractices.

Kabengye, who garnered 2,397 votes, lost to Justus Kamuhanda, who polled 2,765 votes.

Prior to the declaration of the winner, supporters of Kabengye accused NRM registrar for Kahungye sub-county Nicholas Korugyendo of altering the figures on declaration forms to favour Kamuhanda.

After a series of disagreements, Kabale district NRM returning officer Maurice Keitaba called security to calm down the bitter supporters.

"Election results can only be objected to through a petition, after the declaration of the results," Keitaba said.

Kabengye said Korugyendo changed the results from some of the villages where he had defeated his opponent and never gave his agents the declaration forms. "I cannot accept results that portray a wrong picture of what our people decided on.

I protest against the system of doing things that are undemocratic," he said.

Other winners

Meanwhile, the NRM flag-bearers who were declared in other sub counties are Nelson Atukwase (Rubaya), Enock Kazooba (Ryakarimira), Onesmus Mutungi (Maziba), Ascent Aharimpisya (Kibuga) and Bunnet Edward Champion (Butanda).

Kitumba sub-county was won by Daniel Muhereza, while Edmund Tumwesigye won in Kaharo. Deus Kamugisha and Sam Arineitwe were unopposed for Kyanamira and central division, respectivelyKabale district NRM returning officer Maurice Keitaba accused John Kabengye's supporters of going to the tally centre with biased minds and urged them to take a legal action if they were not satisfied with the exercise.