Mary Akol
In the aftermath of the Bukedea LCV by-elections, where Mary Akol of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) emerged victorious, President Museveni expressed his deep dissatisfaction with the chaos and violence that marred the electoral process.
In a letter dated June 26, addressed to Brig Gen Henry Isoke, the head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the president voiced his displeasure over reports he received regarding the intrusion into the house of David Omagor, an accountant who had shown interest in running for the Bukedea chairperson position.
Museveni alleged that government officials unlawfully seized Omagor’s educational documents and absconded with Shs 163 million, to hinder his nomination. Despite Omagor’s appeal to the Electoral Commission to postpone the nomination period,
he faced similar hindrances during the process.
It is alleged that a group of 50 goons assaulted him at the premises of the Electoral Commission, while the police stood idly by. Omagor was left injured, and his papers were once again seized. Moreover, there are allegations that government officials invaded polling stations on election day and cast votes on behalf of the voters.
In his letter, President Museveni emphasized the importance of avoiding a recurrence of the political instability witnessed in the 1980s, specifically referencing the Paulo Muwanga elections, which led to the NRA going to the bush. He instructed Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations of violence and criminal activities, requesting a detailed report on the findings.
In response to the president’s directive, the State House Anti- Corruption Unit arrested five officers from the Bukedea Central police station, including D/ASP Alex Ehguliti, Detective Constable Simon Peter Oriokot, Police Constables Difas Kamakion, Onesimus Akankwasa, and Born Naibe. They were charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated torture.
Despite President Museveni’s condemnation of the events in Bukedea, the question of whether there will be a long-term solution to the electoral strife that persists during by-elections remains shrouded in mystery.
The recent Oyam by-election, which took place on July 6, almost a week after the president’s directive, demonstrated that achieving electoral reforms is a challenging task. Despite Dr Eunice Apio Otuko of the UPC emerging as the winner with 51.2 percent of the votes, cases of violence, intimidation, and malpractice were still reported.
Unidentified individuals wielding weapons allegedly attacked the Wang Lobo polling station in Otwal sub-county, Oyam district, resulting in disorder and confusion. Eyewitnesses reported that armed men held the presiding officer at gunpoint, pre-ticked ballots, and instructed him to manipulate the accountability process.
During the elections, two individuals were detained on accusations of voter bribery. In the morning of July 6, law enforcement officers apprehended Ronald Ocen and Robert Ogwal, who were suspected of engaging in voter bribery. Notably, Ogwal also held the position of chairperson of the UPC in Otwal sub-county.
A sum of Shs 150,000 in cash, along with a list of individuals suspected of receiving money, was discovered. The case is currently under investigation at the CPS Oyam. The violence and irregularities witnessed in both the Bukedea LCV and Oyam by-elections are part of an ongoing pattern that has plagued elections in recent years, resulting in accusations and counteraccusations between the government and the opposition.
National Unity Platform leader Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu, commonly known as Bobi Wine, dismissed President Museveni’s call for an inquiry into the electoral violence and irregularities, labeling it as a diversionary tactic. He argued that Museveni’s intention was not to genuinely address the enduring problem of electoral anomalies within the NRM. Bobi Wine contended that in 2021, after his own nomination, Museveni instructed the Special Forces Command (SFC) to arrest him and attacked their campaign team, confiscating their nomination funds and paperwork.
On the other hand, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) endorsed President Museveni’s decision to order a probe into the Bukedea by-elections. The party believed that such a move had the potential to instill renewed hope in the country’s electoral democratic process.
They advised the president to extend the investigation to previous elections, particularly by- elections, which have been marred by electoral irregularities.
The Electoral Commission, in repeated statements, has condemned the actions of vote rigging and malpractice, considering them unacceptable and criminal, as they infringe upon citizens’ rights to freely participate in electoral activities. However, these condemnations have yet to yield a long-term solution to the persisting acts.
The Omoro parliamentary by- election, held to fill the vacancy left by the late Jacob Oulanyah, saw Andrew Ojok, a member of the ruling NRM party, emerge victorious with 83.3 percent of the votes. The election, too, witnessed numerous cases of voter bribery and intimidation. Opposition parties accused the NRM candidate of bribing voters with substantial amounts of money in different villages.
The NUP flag bearer, Simon Toolit, claimed to have witnessed women receiving 1,000 to 2,000 Ugandan shillings. According to records obtained by the NUP ground team, the RDC of Omoro, Andrew Onyuk, was captured on camera arriving with armed UPDF soldiers and giving instructions to EC officials to engage in rigging activities.
FDC President Patrick Oboi Amuriat echoed similar claims, stating that their party offices were raided in a military-led operation in the dead of night, resulting in the arrest of Chua West MP Okin Ojara. The Kayunga by-election, held on December 16, 2021, to fill a vacant seat, was also plagued by similar incidents.
Harriet Nakweede of the NUP and Andrew Muwonge of the NRM engaged in a fierce competition, with Muwonge ultimately emerging as the winner with 31,830 votes. During the campaigns, a minimum of 81 individuals, including members
of parliament Aloysius Mukasa, David Kalwanga, and Charles Tebandeke, were arrested for campaigning beyond the deadline, disobedience, and violating curfew provisions.
Supporters and leaders of the National Unity Platform reportedly sustained injuries during confrontations with security forces while campaigning in Kayunga. The tragedy that accompanies by-elections continues to fuel debates about who should be held accountable for the ongoing political turmoil.
In relation to the army’s involvement in electoral anomalies, including abductions, torture, vote rigging, and malpractice, an anonymous UPDF official emphasized that the military’s engagement in politics is not an institutional practice. While the military is expected to remain nonpartisan, certain individuals within the force may have undisclosed political agendas, which goes against UPDF protocols.
This prompted the president to order an immediate investigation into such individuals. The official cited the example of Ivan Wabwire, who faced individual charges for shooting and killing an Indian moneylender, Uttam Bhandari, rather than implicating the entire police force.
Source: The Observer
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