Candidates Reject Bukomansimbi LC1 Results, Threaten Court Action

Several candidates who lost the recently concluded LC1 elections in Bukomansimbi District have vowed to challenge the results in court, alleging widespread electoral irregularities, voter intimidation and breaches of Electoral Commission procedures.

Several unsuccessful candidates in the recently concluded LC1 chairperson elections in Bukomansimbi District have rejected the declared results and threatened to petition court, claiming the polls were marred by irregularities, voter intimidation and electoral malpractice.

The aggrieved candidates allege that the elections were characterized by manipulation of voters, confusion over the voters' register, intimidation of supporters and failure by election officials to adhere to Electoral Commission guidelines.

Mbetabeitu Bashir, who contested for the LC1 chairperson seat of Kavule A Village in Kyankoole Parish, Butenga Sub-county, claimed the election was manipulated in favour of his opponent.

"We had already lined up to vote, but the polling chairperson connived with my opponent, who was serving as the defence secretary, and instructed everyone to join his line. Even those who had lined up behind me were forcefully removed and made to cross over," Bashir alleged.

"The situation became chaotic, but instead of resolving the confusion, the election officials declared my opponent the winner."

Bashir said he immediately reported the matter to Bukomansimbi District Election Officer Betty Komugereko but believes the matter can only be resolved through the courts.

"My victory was stolen. They even tried to intimidate me by claiming I am a Mugwira (outsider) and therefore unfit to lead the village. I will seek justice in court," he said.

Another candidate, John Matovu, who contested for the LC1 chairperson seat in Kanoni Village, Butenga Town Council, also accused election officials of colluding with his opponent to influence the outcome.

According to Matovu, the election official assigned to supervise the exercise deliberately concealed the voters' register.

"The register was hidden, and many eligible voters were denied registration because the registration officer was always absent. We later discovered that the register had been left in the custody of my opponent's campaign treasurer," Matovu alleged.

He said he reported the matter to Kanoni Police, who referred him to Electoral Commission officials. According to Matovu, election officials later found the voters' registers at the home of his opponent's treasurer.

Matovu further claimed that similar irregularities affected the election of women's committee leaders, alleging that voters were directed into particular queues, causing confusion and prompting many residents to abandon the voting process.

He also alleged that declaration forms and voters' registers were torn during the chaos.

"Some people used one national identity card to register multiple voters, while many legitimate voters failed to vote because their names were missing from the register," he claimed.

"By around 11:30 a.m., we informed the presiding officer that the declaration forms had been tampered with, but despite all these complaints, they continued with the election and later declared results. Some of the people whose names appeared in the register are not even residents of Kanoni Village."

Matovu said he intends to petition the Electoral Commission and seek nullification of the election results, arguing that the exercise did not meet the standards of a free and fair election.

Responding to the complaints, Bukomansimbi District Returning Officer Betty Komugereko advised dissatisfied candidates to pursue the legal avenues provided under the law.

"Any candidate who is dissatisfied with the election results should seek justice through the courts," Komugereko said.

The complaints emerge as candidates in several parts of Bukomansimbi continue to question the conduct of the recently concluded LC1 elections, with some preparing legal challenges in an effort to overturn the declared results.

The Electoral Commission has not publicly commented on the specific allegations raised by the candidates.