Voters at Kabayoola polling station in Sembabule Town Council, Sembabule District, destroyed election materials on Wednesday afternoon in protest of alleged election malpractices during the ongoing Local Council III elections. Witnesses say chaos erupted after a group of men allegedly stuffed ballot boxes with pre-ticked papers, sparking outrage among voters.
Joseph Kafeero, who was present at the station, described the scene: “About five armed men emerged from vehicles with concealed number plates. They overran the polling station and forced ballot papers into the boxes. Moments after they left, the voters turned rowdy, confiscated the ballot box, and destroyed it by hitting it with clubs and stones.”
Ronald Nsubuga, an independent candidate for the Sembabule Town Council Chairperson seat, said his polling agents informed him that the ballot papers had been scattered on the ground. He accused fellow independent candidate Jackson Murungi Bashiira of orchestrating the malpractice with the help of the military.
“We raised these concerns with the Electoral Commission, but when no action was taken, the people felt compelled to act and resolve the problem themselves,” Nsubuga said. Gracious Eryaiza, the Sembabule District Returning Officer, and Jane Francis Kagaayi, the Resident District Commissioner, rushed to the polling station to contain the situation, which remained tense as of press time.
