Violence, missing names mar Arua by-election

Arrested. Police arrest a man suspected to be in possession of fake register. PHOTO BY ALEX ESAGALA

What you need to know:

  • Complaints. Candidates allege voters were intimidated by the heavy deployment of security forces.

Arua. Candidates in the Arua Municipality by-election yesterday complained that electorates voted under duress due to heavy deployment of security forces who were constantly patrolling the streets and polling stations and driving at high speed.
“I exercised my right to vote, but the turn up is not what we expected because people felt intimidated. The situation is a bit tense because sometimes they intimidate so that people get scared of voting,” the Democratic Party candidate, Mr Kennedy Madira, told Daily Monitor.
There were also cases of violence and missing names on the voters register during yesterday’s Arua Municipality by-election.
Arua Municipality mayor Issa Kato survived being lynched by a mob who pelted him with stones that severely damaged his car. The mob accused him of trying to rig the election but he was rescued by police. His damaged car was taken to Arua Police Station.

Violence
Mr Kato denied the accusations and said he was an innocent victim of mob action.
“I was attacked as I was coming to vote. This time, the registers had been changed because I also found some chaos at Kebir Cell resulting from those who did not find their names [on the register]. Immediately I came out of the vehicle, I saw a group of voters shouting that I have come to steal votes. Then they started pushing me. When I tried to enter the car, they started stoning me and slapping me. If the stone that hit the windscreen landed on me, I would be dead,” he told Daily Monitor. The morning incident scared the mayor that by 2pm he had not voted.
“If Museveni’s car can be stoned, what about me? This has not been the habit of voters in the municipality. The Opposition thinks that they can win through riots. Getting victory is not by force. I cannot work with somebody whose supporters were stoning me [if he wins the election].”
West Nile region police spokesperson Josephine Angucia said: “We have been struggling to ensure there is peace during the election. This violence is uncalled for. We are investigating the violence against the mayor since he reported the case to the police.” One person was arrested on allegations of possessing a ‘fake’ voters register.
The Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party president Mr Patrick Amuriat, said: “Those incarcerated in Gulu are actually members of FDC and it is sad that a matter of an election of an MP would cause death and untold suffering. We hope that justice system prevails.”
At Oyoo Ze polling station, voting delayed because the biometric machine operator did not show up.
“We could not establish the reason why he did not show up. We had to agree with the candidates’ agents to select a new biometric machine operator,” said the presiding officer, Mr Mansur Chiriga.

Vote rigging
However, Ms Hawa Zaitun, a voter, said residents had surrounded two homes where vote rigging was suspected to be taking place. The claim could not be independently verified by Daily Monitor by press time.
“Our vigilant security team will spend the whole day at those homes so that no pre-ticked ballot papers are taken to the polling centres. We are ready to die for this,” she charged.
Mr Jotham Taremwa, the Electoral Commission spokesperson, said they would cross-check the claims with the officials on the ground.
“I need to verify with our supervisors. At times even when materials are there, you have to wait for at least five voters to witness the opening. We had technical officers to assist in correcting the biometric machines,” he said.