Pallisa EC officials blamed for delayed nominations

Nominations for parliamentary candidates in Pallisa district delayed to start for over three hours on Thursday, and the blame was put on the Electoral Commission (EC) officials. They were accused of failing to give the candidates the programme for the nominations.

Most of the candidates arrived at the nomination venue as early as 9:00 am but found when the officials had not yet arrived. The officials arrived at about 10:00 am after the resident district commissioner (RDC) and district Police commander held an emergency meeting on how to manage the crowds that had escorted their candidates.

There was a scuffle after the Police that had been deployed at the gate tried to block a New Vision journalist from taking pictures. The situation was saved by the RDC, Ssenyonjo Kyeune, and district internal security officer.

Elmasmasi Kimbowe, the Pallisa district returning officer, also appealed to the candidates to control their voters and avoid campaigning at night.

The National Resistance Movement flag-bearer, Kevin Kaala Ojinga, has pledged to fight tribalism among the Bagwere and Iteso, which she said was frustrating service delivery.

"Pallisa is the mother of all the new districts in Bukedi, but they are experiencing rapid development compared to Pallisa because of the tribalism and sectarianism in the district," Ojinga said.

She said young people have failed to apply for jobs fearing that they may not go through because of the tribalism that is eating up the district.

"Bagwere and Iteso are one person and have for long-lived together and intermarried, so nobody should be denied services because they are either Mugwere or Iteso," she said.

Josephine Isaberet (independent) also condemned tribalism, adding that it must be fought collectively. Isaberet said she decided to contest as an independent because she wanted to act as a unifying factor.