While addressing the press about their findings on Thursday, the observers noted that due to lack of civic education, several registered voters did not participate.
At some of the polling stations visited by URN reporter visited, presiding officers who spoke on condition of anonymity say that they had been directed to use BVVK machines without fail and directed to in turn suspend the polling exercise in case of any technical breakdowns.
Led by Musisi, losers say that, Nasser was declared a winner without conclusively tallying results from four wards within the division which creates suspicion of possible voter fraud.
A number of them told URN that they felt insecure because the polling stations are characterized by heavy security deployment. They argue that the current environment is intimidating for voters, especially, those with divergent political views.
Most of the BVVK machines were experienced network breakdowns and voters would spend close to seven minutes verifying their details before being cross-checked in the voters’ registers.
During Mwiru’s campaign launch on Friday, the voters say that their area is lagging in terms of quality health care with frequent drug stock-outs and poor infrastructure within the lower health facilities yet there is limited government intervention to improve the situation.
Speaking after he was nominated on Friday, Mwiru says that, although some of the supporters were against his move to join another party, he will use the campaign season to consolidate his victory.
One of the contestants Andrew Kaluya notes that, they agreed to use the NRM registers but they were surprised that there was open voting in 53 villages.
Trouble started after the supporters of Ayub Kisubi and his rival, Zabura Mugara started accusing each other of ferrying nonvoters from other districts to illegally participate in the primaries.
Trouble started after the Jinja LC V Chairperson, Titus Kisambira and Kagoma County Member of Parliament, Moses Walyomu were turned away from the polls on grounds that their names were not on the approved voter’s register.
“Government is paying money on a decentralized system for the Organisation. We have to know what happens in the districts. Why can’t some of these services be executed in the districts? Why do you have to bring the whole Uganda here [in Kololo] and expose our weaknesses?” Biribonwa questions why all services are being offered at the Kololo-based NIRA headquarters.
The party had rolled out its 2021 General Election roadmap listing mass recruitment and registration of new members as the first activity, preceding grassroots elections. As part of the process, the party distributed registration books also known as the green books, to be used as voter registers.
While preaching to Christians at Iganga Cathedral Church on Christmas Day, Wakula says that voters are outraged that several promises made in the past have not yet been fulfilled.
