By Our Reporter
Namisindwa; Tension is simmering in Namisindwa District following a dramatic fallout from the just-concluded National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries for Woman Member of Parliament. Dr. Sarah Bwayo Khanakwa, one of the front-runners in the hotly contested race, has rejected the official results, citing what she called “systematic fraud, bribery, and electoral theft.”
NRM District Registrar Kikuyi Richard declared Khalayi Peace Simiyu the winner with 82,419 votes, ahead of Dr. Khanakwa, who polled 52,331. However, this announcement has been met with widespread outrage from Khanakwa’s supporters and other concerned loyal NRM supporters, who claim the electoral process was rigged to impose a preferred candidate on the people.
“What happened in Namisindwa was not an election; it was a selection and hijacking of the people’s will,” Dr. Khanakwa noted; “We reject the results. We cannot bow to fraud.”
Fraud & Bribery Rock The Election
Multiple allegations of voter bribery, vote padding, forgery, and underage voting have emerged from across the district. Dr. Khanakwa’s chief campaign agent, Wasike Ashraf Ashaba, accused Khalayi Peace’s father, Mr. Simiyu Sam, of orchestrating a district-wide voter bribery operation. He claims voters were paid Shs10,000 each, and that forged declaration forms were submitted in the absence of polling officials.
According to reports, in many villages where voter turnout was low, the “unused” ballots were reportedly purchased by Khalayi’s camp for between UGX 70,000 and UGX 100,000 per village, and later manipulated to reflect 100% voter turnout.
“Imagine, they claim every registered voter turned up — not a single one missed, died, or was sick. This is statistically impossible,” a visibly frustrated John Bulime from Bumbo Town Council said. “This is not just malpractice; it’s treason against democracy.”
More concerning is the accusation that the NRM register, which includes both members and voters — some as young as 16 and 17 — was manipulated to include all 170,000 as having cast votes.
Infact, eyewitnesses reported disturbing scenes in polling centers such as Bumbo Town Council, where children as young as six were allegedly lined up to vote in favor of Khalayi Peace. “This election was a complete mockery of the democratic process,” one resident noted.
Fear of Petitions, Surge In Independent Aspirations
While other contestants in the race, including Dorothy Wolukawu, Grace Namukhura, Victor Kharunda, and Zubedda Wasike, have remained publicly silent, sources indicate many are privately seething but fear filing formal petitions due to the high financial cost of a rerun.
“This silence shouldn’t be mistaken for consent,” one campaign aide confided. “Several candidates are now preparing to stand as independents in 2026. The people feel robbed, and they want justice.”
Amid the storm, residents across Namisindwa have taken to radio talk shows, village gatherings, and social media to rally behind Dr. Khanakwa and call on her to run as an independent.
“The NRM primary failed to reflect the people’s will. We want Khanakwa on the ballot in 2026 — with or without the party,” shouted a protester during a community gathering in Magale Town Council.
With growing grassroots momentum and national attention, Dr. Khanakwa’s next move could dramatically shape the 2026 general election in Namisindwa.
WATCH: CHILDREN BELOW WERE CAPTURED BUSY VOTING AT VARIOUS POLLING CENTERS!
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