Residents throw away NRM cards over vote rigging

Police officers calm residents who were protesting vote rigging in the NRM LC3 flag bearer election at Ngarama Sub-county Bukanga in Isingiro District on Tuesday. Photo by Colleb Mugume

ISINGIRO- Residents of Ngarama Sub-county in Bukanga County, Isingiro District, on Tuesday threw away their NRM party cards protesting lack of transparency, vote rigging and intimidation in the internal elections.

The cause
Supporters of Mr Benon Matsiko Kyampa, who was contesting for NRM flag for Ngarama LC3 top seat stormed the sub-county headquarters where they abandoned their party cards protesting poll results announced by the sub-county registrar, Mr Robert Baingana, in favour of Mr Silver Kiiza.

They vowed to join Opposition parties. Police fired live bullets in the air to disperse the crowd.

The group also demanded the release of three of their colleagues who were arrested on Monday and were still being detained at Ngarama Police Station.

Mr Matsiko claims that he received 4,377 votes while Kiiza got 3,930 votes but the registrar announced different results.

“Votes gathered earlier showed I got 4,377 votes while my opponent got 3,930 but registrar came with different results at a half past midnight indicating that Silver Kiiza won and he promised to give us official results the following day.

We came here but he is not in the office which has forced me to send a petition to the district registrar,” Mr Matsiko who led the protesters, said.

He added that at 10pm, the presiding officer at Rwenshama Polling Station allegedly allowed crime preventers to stuff pre-ticked ballot papers into the ballot boxes.

The registrar’s response
The District NRM registrar Ven Taremwa said he has received the complaints and will investigate the matter.

The deputy RDC Isingiro, Mr Damiano Turyatunga, said they will investigate why police fired bullets and will ensure calm is restored in the area.

By press time, more election petitions where coming in from Nyakitunda, Kikagati and Nyamiyanja Sub-counties.