Security has been biffed up in Kihihi Town Council in Kanungu district as locals there go to the polls to elect their mayor, which exercise was postponed from March 9th.
The election was suspended following clashes amid allegations of election irregularities such as pre-ticked ballots, voter bribing and intimidation.
The Electoral Commission was compelled to call off the exercise and organize a fresh on after the electorate decided to boycott it.
Officials unload polling materials
Police and the UPDF have this morning deployed heavily in the town, raising more fears that the ruling party candidate Deus Tugume could be trying to use the forces again to his advantage.
“This is a small town council election, there’s no call for such heavy deployment of police and the army,” said a local businessman Charles Muhangi while speaking to Chimpreports this morning. “It is clear now that they have no intention of letting people choose their own leadership freely.”
Voting today commenced at 8:30pm
According to the locals, the voting on March 9th started as early as 3AM in the night even before the EC officials and agents arrived. Dozens of pre-ticked ballots were found at various polling stations.
By publication however, the polling exercise was running smoothly. The race is between the NRM candidate Deus Tugume, Independent candidate Zepher Mugisha and FDC’s Dennis Tweheyo.
