NRM Polls Called-off in Sembabule over Violence

Election of National Resistance Movement (NRM) parliamentary flag bearers have been called off in parts of Sembabule district due to growing cases of electoral related violence.

The party’s electoral commission Dr. Tanga Odoi told a news conference at the party headquarters that the party had decided to cancel elections in Mawogola West following last weekend’s clashes that left the Sembabule Woman MP, Anifa Bangirana Kawooya, injured.

Kawooya is competing for the NRM flag in Mawogola West with the current Mawogola MP, Joseph Ssekabiito Kitayimbwa.

Odoi addressed journalists after meeting the candidates and announced that they can’t allow Sembaule to distract elections in the rest of the country.

Odoi said that Kawooya needed time to recover from the injuries she sustained on Saturday when she was assaulted by the Ssekabiito’s supporters.

The trouble is not only in Mawogola West alone; chaos has been reported in Mawogola North where Shartis Kutesa, a daughter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa is battling President Yoweri Museveni’s brother Godfrey Aine Kaguta Sodo.

The two have used security personnel attached to them to fight their political battles which have seen some civilians sustaining injuries.

Available information indicates that both candidates in Mawogola North have called for the postponement of elections as the Odoi’s commission sorts out the issues to do with the register and the alleged bias by some of its officials.

Lwemiyaga county where the incumbent MP Theodore Ssekikubo is fighting to defeat minister Joy Kafura Kabatsi has also witnessed violence as supporters of each camp accuse the other of trying to influence the election and causing violence. Odoi used the press conference to warn that he will not hesitate to cancel elections in the rest of Sembabule if violence persists.

“We are warning before midnight tonight more is coming,” Odoi said.

 He also warned contestants in districts; Mityana, Kazo, Sheema, Tororo, Bushenyi, Rwampara, Isingiro, Hoima, Butaleja, Amudat and Kyenjojo among others to desist from a violent contest or they risk their elections to also be cancelled.

Meanwhile, Odoi retracted his Tuesday statements that only those people who will be on the voter’s register will be allowed to vote. This follows a directive by President Museveni that all NRM members should be allowed to vote provided they are on the register.

He said even those that are not on the register but are verified as NRM members and are above the age of 18 they too should be allowed to vote.