Uganda electoral commission declines ballot stuffing claims in the just concluded Hoima by-election results
Following accusations of rigged elections in the just concluded Hoima District Woman legislator by-elections, Electoral Commission (EC) has strongly refuted claims of issuing ballot papers to the NRM Party before the polling date.
Byabakama issued a statement saying that on Thursday 26th Sept 2019 the Electoral Commission received a report of attempted ballot-stuffing at one of the two hundred and sixty-six (266) polling stations in Hoima District.
“Two agents for candidate Nyakato Asinansi, namely Michael Kabaziguruka and Maj Gen Mugisha (Rtd) reported to the commission that a voter attempted to insert pre-ticked ballot papers into the ballot box, but was intercepted by the polling constable for that Station.”
This comes after Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president, Patrick Amuriat and the Kyadondo East legislator, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine said that the Hoima vote which had an opposition representative, particularly from FDC Party was not free and fair.
According to Amuriate and Bobi Wine, the election was covered up with extensive vote malpractices that include brutal harassment by the military officers against its supporters.
“Extensive election malpractices by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) that marred the electoral exercise during the campaign and climaxing on the voting day,” Amuriat said.
“The exercise brutally by the military against our supporters and massive outright rigging, through ballot stuffing using pre-ticked ballot and falsifying results just rein enforces the mockery to democracy that comes with every election organised by the NRM junta. This makes the credibility of the outcome questionable.”
“Available information shows that they took advantage of the vastness of the district to stuff ballots early morning in remote areas and were caught later in the day. Several people recorded these things on video which is why Museveni and his regime are moving to ban cameras from polling stations,” Bobi Wine said.
Electoral Commission Chairperson, Eng. Simon Byabakama Mugenyi says the accusations against them are completely groundless.
“This allegation is incorrect! I wish to point out that upon conclusion of these by-elections, a lot of talk and Social Media reports have focussed on the by-election in Hoima District,” Byabakama said.
Byabakama adds that the Kaabong and Hoima District Woman legislator by-election results reflect the true will of voters in the mentioned districts because the electoral process was entirely peaceful.
In his further remarks, Byabakama said that the pre-ticked ballot papers should not have been handed over to EC as Gen Muntu desired, but should have been handed over to Police for further investigations.
He says EC’s senior legal officers, who were tasked to receive the pre-ticked ballot papers handed in 51 pre-ticked ballots to the Commission.
Nevertheless, Byabakama says the 51 pre-ticked ballots papers were then handed over to Police for further investigations.
He also assured the public that EC will coordinate with police to make sure that criminals in this matter are prosecuted.
Continuing, Byabakama disclosed that EC is so much disappointed by some FDC supporters’ actions in which they forged Commission’s accreditation tags, issued them out to their agents to keenly observe the by-election proceedings which is illegal.
“I wish to thank the Uganda Police Force for apprehending some of these suspects, namely Kizza Hakim and one Walakira, who has since been charged with forgery before the magistrate’s court at Hoima and are now remanded, as investigations continue,” Byabakama said.
“The Commission wishes to warn the general public, and particularly stakeholders in the electoral process that forgery of election materials is a criminal act,” he added.
During the Hoima and Kaabong District Woman legislators’ by-elections, Byabakama says some people miss used their Social Media platforms, particularly during the results of the election tallying.
“I wish to point out that upon conclusion of these by-elections, a lot of talks and Social Media reports have focussed on the by-election in Hoima District,” Byabakama said.
Byabakama adds that some individuals via their social media platforms circulated false information as regards to the vote, particularly fictitious results from non-existing voting centres in Hoima District.
“We urge Ugandans not to abuse these social media platforms, and warn the public to desist from sharing unverified information.”
Ms Harriet Businge of NRM won the Hoima Woman District legislator seat against Ms Asinansi Nyakato of FDC with 33,301 votes, and Nyakato obtained only 28,789 votes.
