Wakiso's Busawuli Residents Threaten to Split Village Over LC Polls

Residents of Busawuli Village in Wakiso District have rejected the results of the recent chairperson election, alleging irregularities and threatening to seek the creation of a separate administrative unit.

Residents of Busawuli Village in Mende Sub-county, Wakiso District, have rejected the results of the recent village chairperson election, alleging irregularities and insisting that the candidate they supported was not declared the winner.

The residents staged a protest, carrying placards and sticks as they voiced their dissatisfaction with the electoral process.

The election was contested by NRM member Fred Kigongo, a former village chairperson who has reportedly led the area for more than 25 years, and fellow NRM member Trifonia Nakafero, who stood as an independent candidate after failing to secure the NRM flag.

Kigongo was declared the winner, but the protesting residents claim Nakafero garnered more votes.

They allege that people unknown to the area were brought to the polling station on election day and allowed to vote despite, according to the protesters, not appearing on the voters' register.

The residents also allege that the vote-counting process was marred by confusion.

“We cannot accept these results because the person who was declared the winner is not the one we voted for,” one resident said.

Ramadhan Kyakonye, the NRM register for the area, also questioned the results, claiming the figures indicated that Nakafero had more support.

“It was clear that Trifonia Nakafero had won because she had supporters on two lines, while Fred did not have a single line,” Kyakonye said.

The residents said their suspicions increased after election officials allegedly announced one set of results before later saying they had made an error and declaring Kigongo the winner.

“We were first told that we had won, but later they said they had made a mistake and announced Fred Kigongo as the winner. We cannot accept that,” another resident said.

Nakafero said the disputed election had left residents disappointed but urged her supporters to remain calm as they pursue the matter through the relevant authorities.

“The residents are deeply hurt by what happened, but I am asking them to remain calm. This matter will be resolved, and I will not abandon them,” Nakafero said.

The residents said they had submitted complaints to several authorities and obtained letters documenting their grievances but claimed no action had been taken.

They are now calling on Minister of State for Local Government Baram Barugahara to intervene and investigate the disputed election.

The protesters also threatened to push for the division of Busawuli Village into two administrative units if they are not given what they describe as their rightful victory.

“We will not accept defeat. If we are denied justice, we shall divide the village because we no longer want Fred Kigongo to lead us,” the residents warned.

Kigongo, however, dismissed the allegations, saying they were untrue and urging residents to accept the election outcome.

“Everything they are saying about me is not true. I ask them to accept that I won the election,” Kigongo said by phone.

Efforts to speak to the official who presided over the election were unsuccessful, as the telephone contacts provided could not be reached.