MP raps police over Kayunga poll chaos

Mr Amos Lugoloobi, the Ntenjeru North MP says he won because he lobbied many projects for the people. PHOTO BY FRED MUZAALE 

In Summary

Accusation. The legislator accuses police of not taking action on people who beat up local leaders during the recent local council elections.

Kayunga. Ntenjeru North MP Amos Lugoloobi has castigated the police for failing to take any action on people who beat up local leaders and the Kayunga District returning officer, Ms Ruth Nakacwa, during the recent local council elections.

Last week, some candidates who were contesting for the Kayunga District LC5 seat that included Mr Thomas Mulondo, Dr Sazir Mayanja and some district NRM leaders are said to have roughed up Ms Nakacwa, accusing her of announcing false election results that showed that Mr Tom Sserwanga had won the highly contested district chairperson race.
Mr Lugoloobi and Ms Idah Nantaba, the Lands State minister and also Kayunga Woman MP, were allegedly assaulted during the five-minute fracas as the riot police and military police looked on at Kayunga District headquarters in Ntenjeru.

Consequently, Ms Nakacwa failed to declare the winner. The rowdy candidates and their supporters tore the result tally sheets and computers belonging to Electoral Commission were also destroyed.
“How can hooligans beat up the returning officer, a Cabinet minister and a Member of Parliament and no action is taken?” Mr Lugoloobi asked, adding: “Who is this Moses Karangwa, who commits crimes and gets away with it?” Mr Karangwa is the district NRM chairperson.

Since last Thursday’s fracas, no one has been apprehended or summoned by police in connection with the incident.
However, Dr Mayanja denied any involvement in roughing up Ms Nakacwa, explaining that he instead restrained those who were causing chaos. Dr Mayanja, the former Kayunga District NRM chairman, however, added that he was dissatisfied with the way Ms Nakacwa conducted the elections, which he said were marred with massive irregularities and vowed to contest the results.

Mr Mulondo asked government to refund the money which they used in what he termed as a sham election.
However, the Kayunga District criminal investigation officer, Mr Maliserino Mulema, said police are still investigating the case.
Meanwhile, the candidates opposed to Mr Sserwanga’s victory have petitioned the EC asking for a fresh election, saying the election was marred by massive irregularities such as ballot stuffing.

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