Defeated Nansana Local Council I Candidates Allege Election Irregularities

Several candidates who lost the Local Council I chairperson elections in Nansana Municipality have rejected the results, alleging widespread irregularities, while district authorities insist the exercise was largely peaceful despite isolated disruptions.

NANSANA — Candidates who lost the recently concluded Local Council I (LC I) chairperson elections in Nansana Municipality have accused electoral officials and security personnel of presiding over an unfair electoral process, claiming widespread irregularities cost them victory.

The candidates alleged that the elections lacked transparency and claimed that some of those declared winners were not the actual victors. They cited polling stations in Nabweru South Cell II and Nabweru-Kisawe, where they said the announced winners did not reflect the outcome on the ground.

One of the affected candidates, Yusuf Sempagama Kaye of Nabweru South Cell II, described the election as chaotic, saying confusion erupted after electoral officials allegedly allowed people whose names had not been called from the voters' register, as well as others who had not been verified, to join the voting lines.

"What happened yesterday was something I had never witnessed before. The confusion created by the voting process forced security personnel to fire warning shots, and many people fled the polling station," Sempagama said.

He further alleged that votes were not counted in the presence of candidates.

"I was never informed of the number of votes I received. I only heard that another person had been declared the winner," he said.

In contrast, Nathan Bogere, popularly known as Pakasha, who won the LC I chairperson seat in Kazo Village, said voting in his area was peaceful and orderly.

"The election in my village was free and peaceful. We have already elected the village executive committee, and my priority now is to serve the people and ensure law and order," Bogere said.

The National Unity Platform (NUP) chairperson for Nansana Municipality, Steven Mukalazi, also questioned the conduct of the elections, alleging that many successful candidates had not yet been officially declared.

"Many candidates who won have not been officially announced, and residents in several villages still do not know the final election results. Despite the irregularities, NUP won 24 LC I chairperson positions in the municipality, and we will continue pursuing this matter," Mukalazi said.

Meanwhile, National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairperson for Nansana Municipality, Sam Gayire, said the ruling party had secured victories in more than 70 of the municipality's 130 villages.

"The NRM performed well across Nansana Municipality and won more than 70 village chairperson positions," Gayire said.

Nansana Resident District Commissioner Charles Lwanga defended the conduct of the elections, saying that apart from a few youths who attempted to disrupt the process, the voting exercise was largely peaceful.

"Security acted swiftly to stop the few individuals who wanted to disrupt the election. Overall, the exercise was peaceful, and I urge the newly elected chairpersons to focus on implementing government programmes and addressing the needs of their communities," Lwanga said.