Mbale NRM elections turn chaotic
Supporters of Mr Charles Wafula demonstrate in Mbale Industrial Division yesterday demanding cancellation of the NRM primary election results for the Division, which Mr Wafula lost to Mr Abdu Magoola. Photo by Yahudu Kitunzi
Mbale- Mbale Municipal Council NRM primary elections yesterday turned chaotic after the district electoral officer declared a winner without the results.
Mr Charles Wafula was expected to become the LC3 NRM flag bearer for Mbale Industrial Division but the electoral officer, Mr Bonny Wamunga, declared Mr Abdu Magoola winner without the results and tally sheet.
This prompted Mr Wafula’s supporters to storm the NRM office demanding cancellation of the results.
“How do you declare a winner without counting the results? Our projections indicated that Mr Wafula was leading and then all of a sudden we are told another candidate has won; we can’t believe this ,” Mr Moses Mudibo, a voter, said.
Mr Wamunga told Daily Monitor that he did not have the results at that time.
“I don’t recall the number of votes each scored but the winner is Mr Magoola,” he said.
Mr Wafula alleged the election official acted on orders from above to declare his opponent as winner.
“I will not accept the results because it was not free and fair elections. No votes were counted and and tally sheets were not given to me,” he said, calling for re-election.
Mr Magoola said he is the NRM flag bearer and that he is waiting for the main elections.
“Mr Wafula only concentrated in Namatala slum. I got more votes in Namatala and other cells in the division, that is how I beat him, he should concede defeat,” said Mr Magoola.
