President Museveni calls for investigation into allegations of electoral fraud and misconduct during the Bukedea by-election
H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has ordered State House Anti Corruption Unit to investigate Bukedea LC5 by-election that was marred by open day vote rigging, stealing Candidate Omagor’s Ugx163M, invading polling stations and all sorts of violence.
President Museveni has directed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit head, Brig Gen Henry Isoke to investigate cases of malpractice and chaos in the recently concluded Bukedea LCV by elections.
On June 14, Bukedea District went into polls for the LCV chairperson by-election and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Mary Akol, was declared the winner of the race.
Government officials, characterized as shameless, are accused of stealing Ugx163M belonging to candidate Omagor, as well as invading polling stations and manipulating ballots.
”The EC had to extend the nomination days when he appealed. Even then when he went for nomination, he was attacked at the gate of the Electoral Commission,” says Museveni.
He says on the election day, Government officials invaded the polling stations and voted on behalf of the voters.
”This sounds like a film. However, I want to be sure that Uganda does not go back to the crime of 1980, with Muwanga elections that forced us to go to the bush. Therefore, investigate these claims and if any criminality was committed, take action and report back. Such actions are not only electoral offences,” adds Museveni.
According to the results released by the Returning Officer, Joel Mugyenyi Mugerwa, 87,870 people cast their votes out of the 100,294 registered voters in the district. Out of the counted ballots, 894 were deemed invalid, and 161 were classified as spoilt.
This election was won by NRM’s Mary Akol after Omagor finally withdrew from the race as a result of deadly violence that was caused by some government officials.
The seat became vacant following the passing of district chairperson Moses Olemukan in December of last year.
The president revealed that such actions are not only electoral offences but also criminal. “I am, therefore, directing you to handle the criminals.”
