Security in Rukungiri beefed up ahead of By-election
Police armoured vehicles in Buyanja town, Rukungiri District. PHOTO BY PEREZ RUMANZI
What you need to know:
- Deputy Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed that Police would be assisted by other security agencies including UPDF and military police.
- Police has also marked some places like Buyanja town council, Nyarushanje and Bugangari as black pots where violence is expected. In these places, heavy security has been deployed so that people can vote peacefully.
- Mr Onyango has warned any one that tries to disrupt the election process.
Security has been beefed up in Rukungiri District ahead of today’s Woman MP By-election. Military police, police officers on foot patrol and soldiers in military vehicles can be seen moving in Rukungiri town.
Yesterday Deputy Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed that Police would be assisted by other security agencies including Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and military police.
“We shall ensure protection of electoral materials, set up check points along major routes connecting Rukungiri to neighboring districts, deploy both static and mobile forces to guard offices of the electoral commission, tallying centres, polling centres, party offices and other vulnerable places," Mr Onyango said.
Police has also marked some places like Buyanja town council, Nyarushanje and Bugangari as black spots where violence is expected. In these places, heavy security has been deployed so that people can vote peacefully.
Mr Onyango has warned any one that tries to disrupt the election process.
The Electoral Commission has started dispatching electoral materials to the 280 polling stations across the district. The furthest sub counties like Nyakishenyi, Nyarushanje, Bwambara, Bikurungu town council and Bugangari received materials yesterday evening while the rest received today morning. Voting started at 7am.
The Rukungiri Woman MP seat fell vacant after Court of Appeal nullified Ms Winfred Masiko (NRM)’s election following a petition by Ms Betty Muzanira (FDC).
A total of 177,086 registered voters are expected to cast their vote.
