On Thursday 17th September 2020, many voters in Iganga district missed the LC3 flag-bearer polls when they were informed that the process had already been concluded at the time they turned up for the exercise. Many voters who went to the different polling stations at about 10:00 am were informed that the voting ended at 8:00 am, many were very disappointed in this news. “The move could have been a plot by some candidates to rig elections in their favor”, some said.
At Nabidhonga village polling station the situation got out of hand, forcing the Police to fire teargas and live bullets in the air to disperse the crowds. At Kasokoso polling station, the Police had a hard time restraining the youthful supporters of Haji Hussein Mpiya, an aspirant for the NRM flag in Iganga Central division, who were engaged in fistfights with those of his opponent, Abubaker Kasumba.
During the fracas, over 20 people sustained injuries. The supporters of Mpiya asked for a repeat of the voting process so as to allow them to exercise their rights, while Kasumba’s supporters protested the move.
This article was written by Noella Gracious Mulungi, Year 6.
