NRM’s Majid Batambuze (C) celebrated with supporters upon being declared winner of the Jinja Mayor seat. PHOTO BY DENIS EDEMA
The incumbent mayor for Mbale municipality who is also the Forum for Democratic Change candidate (FDC), Mr Mutwalibi Zandya, has retained his seat as the NRM party swept mayoral seats in the municipalities of Tororo, Iganga, Kapchorwa and Jinja.
The Mbale returning officer, Mr Rashid Musinguzi, declared Mr Zandya as the mayor with 7,529 votes against his main rival, the NRM flag bearer, Mr Moses Kisolo, who got 3,619 votes. The race attracted more than eight candidates.
However, the voting was marred by irregularities reported in several polling stations such as Namatala where cases of multiple voting were cited. At Hamba B polling station, a polling assistant was allegedly thrown out after he was found issuing multiple ballot papers in favour of one of the candidates.
When declared winner, Mr Zandya said he was not surprised to retain his seat. He pledged to fight land grabbing, corruption and also ensure continued infrastructural development.
In the tight competition in Jinja, outspoken Democratic Party candidate who is also the incumbent mayor Mohammed Baswale Kezaala lost his seat to NRM’s Majid Batambuze when he polled 6,292 votes against Batambuze’s 10,272. Mr Batambuze is former Resident District Commissioner of Budaka.
Other candidates in the race were Pastor Zachariah Sserwadda of the Evangelical Church in Jinja who polled 2,432 votes and FDC’s Mr Moses Talugende who got 1,337 votes.
Speaking at the Jinja tally centre shortly after he was declared winner of the race, Mr Batambuze whose thrust in the campaign has been evolving around re-organising the town, called on his rivals to draw a line after the campaign and join him in developing the town. “Let us forget the differences that could have cropped up during the campaigns and unite for the betterment of our town,” Mr Batambuze said.
Mr Kezaala, who declined to go to the tally centre for the official declaration of the results, insists the election was not conducted in a fair manner, accusing security agencies of arresting many of his supporters and denying them a chance to vote.
NRM grabbed the Tororo Municipality mayoral seat after the incumbent, Mr Geoffrey Emokol Opua, was trounced by Mr John Opio, the NRM flag bearer, who garnered 4,903 votes against 3,108 votes.
In Iganga, the NRM candidate, Mr David Balaba, was declared winner, beating seven other candidates including FDC’s Hassan Muyinda.
According to results released by Iganga District returning officer, Mr Jackson Higenyi, late on Wednesday night, Mr Balaba polled 6,529 votes, followed by Independent candidate, Asuman Dhabasadha, who polled 2,990 votes, while Mr Hassan Muyinga came third with 2,042 votes.
Kapchorwa gets first mayor
Kapchorwa Municipality, which is set to become effective at the start of the financial year on July 1, has voted its first mayor.
The district returning officer, Mr Michael Oguttu, declared Mr Stephen Batya (NRM) who polled 6,501 votes against Mr Sadik Chemutai (Independent) who managed 4,670 votes.
Another candidate, Mr David Twoyem polled 504 votes.
Kapchorwa was among the 12 municipalities created by government in 2015 for what government called the “proper planning and expansion of the area to ensure orderly development, having taken into account the multiplier effect on the economy of the area, the economic viability, the destiny and wishes of the people concerned.
Reported by Abubaker Kirunda, Fred Wambede, Yahudu Kitunzi, Joseph Omollo, David Mafabi, & Joyce Chemitai
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com
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