By Our Reporter
Mityana District Deputy Resident Commissioner (RDC), Prossy Mwanjuzi, has accused the National Unity Platform (NUP) of orchestrating widespread electoral malpractice during the recently concluded Kawempe by-election. Mwanjuzi, who served as an election observer in Kanyanya Parish which has 21 polling stations, claims that the NUP engaged in systematic vote rigging to secure victory for their candidate Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola.
Addressing the media in Mityana, Mwanjuzi alleged that at multiple polling stations under her watch, she witnessed people voting without verification against the official Electoral Commission (EC) register. “I personally observed individuals casting votes without their identities being cross-checked in the EC voter register,” she said.
She further dismissed opposition allegations that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) used drones to abduct NUP supporters during the polling exercise. Instead, she claimed the drones were operated by NUP agents to intimidate National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters and prevent them from casting their votes for NRM candidate, Nambi Faridah.
“A case in point,” Mwanjuzi recounted, “was at Kitambuzi polling station, where a voter came identifying herself as Nakafero Harriet. After questioning her, it became clear she was impersonating the actual voter whose photo appeared in the register. It was an attempt to stuff the ballot with fake votes.”
She added that similar incidents of electoral fraud were rampant at other polling stations, including St. Peters, Kitambuzi, Mukikyikubo, and Kiyanja—the latter allegedly hosting polling in the private residence of a known NUP supporter. Mwanjuzi also noted that she was informed that some Electoral Commission officials allegedly accepted bribes to facilitate the rigging process in NUP’s favor.
Meanwhile, despite NUP’s win, the election has been marred by accusations from both camps. NUP has alleged harassment, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation by state security agencies, while the NRM, through officials like Mwanjuzi, has raised concerns about fraudulent voting and electoral malpractices perpetrated by the opposition party.
As the dust settles on the Kawempe by-election, stakeholders are calling for thorough investigations into all reported incidents to restore public confidence in Uganda’s electoral system.
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