Two Electoral Commission officials arrested over extortion

Police in Kakumiro District have arrested two Electoral Commission (EC) officials on allegations of extortion. The arrested are; the EC’s Kijangi Sub County supervisor who is a resident of Bufunjo village in Nyakatete parish and the EC's Kigando parish supervisor.

Police reportedly got a tip off from concerned voters who accused the EC officials in the area of demanding money from them before updating their particulars on the national voters register in the ongoing update of the national voters register.

“They were arrested following complaints that they were extorting money from voters who are participating in the update of the national voters register,” said Mr Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Regional Police spokesperson.

“We have obtained exhibits from them of money amounting to Shs61, 000 which they are suspected to have extorted from voters in the area,” he added.

According to detectives investigating the case, the money obtained from the suspects is in the notes of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000.

Seven witnesses have already recorded statements at Kakumiro Central Police station where they have implicated the officials in extortion, Mr Hakiza said.

The suspects are detained at Kakumiro Central Police station pending the completion of police investigations into the matter.

Police has preferred charges of bribery and extortion against the suspects.

The EC is undertaking the update of the National Voters’ Register for purposes of the 2020/2021 General Elections.

The general update exercise commenced on Thursday November 21, 2019 and is scheduled to close on Monday December 16, 2019.

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