Residents of Abayita Ababiri have welcomed the decision by the Electoral Commission to repeat elections in the area, accusing the UPDF and some local politicians of disrupting the previous exercise.
The fresh election has been set for Thursday, 15th October.
Joseph Musunku, a resident, thanked the Electoral Commission for listening to their complaints and agreeing to repeat the poll.
He asked the Commission to deploy competent and trustworthy officials to ensure a credible election.
“We ask the Electoral Commission to send disciplined and honest staff who will do what is right,” Musunku said.
Musunku also asked security agencies, especially the UPDF, to stay away from the electoral process, alleging that during the last election, soldiers openly took sides.
“The UPDF should completely leave election matters this time. Last time they showed their side and colluded in a wrong way,” he noted.
He named John Bosco Ssemambo and Ronald Mutebi as being among those who spearheaded chaos in the previous polls, allegedly with the help of the UPDF.
In a related development, Abbey Ssebowa, one of the contestants, expressed shock that the UPDF, which is supposed to keep peace, is now being accused of disrupting it.
“It is shocking that the UPDF, which should be keeping peace, is the one disrupting it. Last time they beat up people and even stopped them from lining up to vote,” Ssebowa said.
Ssebowa highlighted that he was among those who suffered during the last exercise, despite leading in the vote, claiming that officials tallied results in a confusing manner.
“I was among those who were troubled yet I was leading. But they tallied papers and left people confused,” he stated.
Ssebowa also expressed concern over the village register, saying that those accused of causing chaos in the previous election have too much access to it, something he said is wrong and shameful.
He however thanked the Electoral Commission for listening to their outcry and granting a re-election and also appealed to the UPDF not to interfere this time and to let residents freely choose their leaders, saying, “The UPDF should avoid interfering with this election. Let the residents choose the leader they want to take them forward.”
Another resident, Eddy Katongola, also joined the call for a peaceful electoral process ahead of the Thursday polls.
Katongola said residents want a calm environment where everyone is free to vote without fear or intimidation.
“We want a peaceful election on Thursday. Let everyone come and vote freely and let the will of the people be respected,” Katongola said.
He urged all stakeholders, including security agencies and candidates’ supporters, to avoid any acts that could cause violence.
They all called upon all residents to turn up in large numbers to elect a Chairperson and the council that will lead Abayita Ababiri forward.
