FDC’s Mwiru casts vote, decries intimidation of his supporters

Mr Mwiru, accompanied by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP), Ms Winnie Kizza, cast his vote at exactly 12:40pm at Walukuba East Primary School.

What you need to know:

  • The poll attracted eight candidates who include; Mr Nathan Igeme Nabeta (NRM), Mr Paul Mwiru (FDC), Mr Faisal Mayemba, Eng Francis Wakabi, Ms Christine Monica Abuze, Mr Paul Mugaya, Mr Richard Nyanzi and Mr Hatim Isabirye Mugendi – all Independents.
  • This election follows the nullification of Nabeta’s February 2016 victory in January by the Court of Appeal in Kampala on grounds that he connived with the Electoral Commission (EC) to alter results at Danida A-D polling station which put him at an advantage.

Forum for Democratic Change’s flag bearer in the Jinja East MP by-election, Mr Paul Mwiru, has cast his vote and decried intimidation of his supporters.

Mr Mwiru, accompanied by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP), Ms Winnie Kizza, cast his vote at exactly 12:40pm at Walukuba East Primary School.

“I am shocked by the character of NRM supporters who were at every polling station trying to chase away my supporters,” he told journalists immediately after casting his vote.

Earlier, at Lions Club Polling Station, an unidentified agent from Mr Mwiru’s camp was arrested by Kayunga District NRM Chairperson, Moses Kalangwa Kalisa for reasons that were unknown by press time. Efforts to get a comment from Mr Kalangwa on the matter were futile as he wasn’t picking the calls.

However, Kiira region spokesperson, Ms Diana Nandaula, when contacted, dismissed it as hearsay though promised to investigate.

“Can you imagine that I was forced to disarm him (Kalangwa) who was chasing away my agents from the polling stations?” Mr Mwiru added.

Mr Mwiru has vowed to win the election despite the intimidation.

On the other hand, Mr Nathan Igeme Nabeta, the NRM flag bearer, immediately after casting his vote at Alidina Gokhale A-L Polling Station at Main Street Primary School, said: “This is the last Court (people); whatever it decides is what I will go with.”

Despite about 28,000 voters being expected to vote across 47 polling stations, voting in most polling stations was delayed by rain which started at 6:00am and went on into the afternoon.

At Main Street Polling Station, voting started at 8:30am, according to Goretti Twebaze, the Presiding Officer, who said that out of 820 registered voters only 35 had showed up by 10:00am. While at Masese Health Center II, polling started after 9:00am. The exercise closes at 4:00pm.

The poll attracted eight candidates who include; Mr Nathan Igeme Nabeta (NRM), Mr Paul Mwiru (FDC), Mr Faisal Mayemba, Eng Francis Wakabi, Ms Christine Monica Abuze, Mr Paul Mugaya, Mr Richard Nyanzi and Mr Hatim Isabirye Mugendi – all Independents.

This election follows the nullification of Nabeta’s February 2016 victory in January by the Court of Appeal in Kampala on grounds that he connived with the Electoral Commission (EC) to alter results at Danida A-D polling station which put him at an advantage.