Emmanuel Sserunjogi, of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has retained his seat as mayor of Kawempe Division after defeating the ruling NRM flag bearer, Farouk Buliime, in the just-concluded local government elections.
According to results announced by the Kawempe Division returning officer, Jennifer Kobusingye, Sserumjogi polled 23,718 votes, while Buliime garnered 18,485 votes.
However, the returning officer did not issue Sserumjogi with a declaration form at the time of announcing the results, a development similar to what occurred earlier in Kawempe North constituency, where the elected MP, Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, was also not handed a declaration certificate immediately after being declared the winner.
Speaking shortly after the announcement of the results, Sserunjogi thanked his supporters for the confidence they had once again placed in him, but expressed disappointment over the failure by the returning officer to issue him the declaration form.
“I am happy to be re-elected as mayor of Kawempe Division. I thank the people for trusting me again. However, I am disappointed that I was not given my declaration form. This is something that should be explained to us,” Sserunjogi said.
Security was tight at the tally centre, with heavy deployment of military and police personnel as the returning officer announced the winner of the Kawempe mayoral race.
Meanwhile, the newly elected Kawempe North MP Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola has sought to downplay concerns over the failure by returning officers to issue declaration certificates immediately after elections.
“As far as I know, a candidate should only be worried if their name does not appear in the national gazette,” Nalukoola said. “
Once gazetted, a candidate becomes eligible for swearing-in. Going forward, the declaration form is not such a big issue.”
The Electoral Commission (EC) has not yet officially explained why declaration forms were withheld in both the Kawempe mayoral and parliamentary races.
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