The controversy stems from the credentials one is required to present before being allowed to cast their ballot, something that led to the suspension of the whole process.
Youth that had turned up to elect their LCV councillors in Masaka
District have been locked out over the controversy on the selection of eligible voters.
The main gate to the venue at Masaka Sports Club has been locked and deployed with
scores of Crime Preventers and bouncers who are denying entrance of anybody
including journalists. The controversy stems from the credentials one is
required to present before being allowed to cast their ballot, something that
led to the suspension of the whole process.
Hawah Mugenyi, one of the candidates for Masaka City Female Youth
Councillor on the NUP ticket blames the standoff to alleged acts of
malpractices by their National Resistance Movement counterparts. She accuses
some NRM candidates of plotting to take advantage of the absence of voters’
photographs on the register to sneak-in non-voters to manipulate the exercise.
According to Mugenyi, when they demanded that voters be compelled
to present their National Identification cards before being allowed to cast
votes, NRM candidates chose to create confusion, putting the process to a
standstill.
Tony Ssali another NUP candidate vying to represent
Nyendo-Ssenyange youth to Masaka City council indicates that they have learnt
of plans by their NRM competitors to connive with the Electoral Commission
Presiding Officers to bring in imposters to participate in the voting process
with intentions on rigging out the opposition candidates.
While addressing his voters that had been locked out of the gate,
Ssali indicated that they are doing all it takes to ensure that election
process is not abused by a clique that wants to disfranchise the youth of their
right of freely chose appropriate their leaders.
//Cue; “tukwate bulungi…..
Cue out; …..tugenda kulonda.”//
Ritah Nanyombi, the one the voters that were locked out the venues
accuses the NRM candidates of using security personnel at the gate to only
allow him their supporters at the expense of those that suspect to support the
opposition.
//Cue in; “olwategedde nti….
Cue out; ….ebayisizza bubi.”//
But Rogers Bulegyeya, one of the candidates vying to represent
Kimanya-Kabonera division to Masaka city in the NRM ticket has also accused
their opposition counterparts of deliberately confusing fear of an imminent loss
in the ongoing polls.
Amid the bitter altercations from the angry youth, the Election
Presiding Officers called in Police to respond to the situation that is
threatening the exercise.
Mohammad Nsubuga, the greater Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson
says they have deployed at the venue to ensure that the process goes on
peacefully.
