The protests began when Returning Officer Emily Amongin and her team reportedly stopped reading out results obtained by each candidate from individual polling stations, a procedure candidates say is essential for transparency, and instead proceeded to announce winners.
Tension flared at the Mukono District tally centre on Thursday as several councillors and their agents protested what they described as a lack of transparency in the vote-tallying process. The controversy began when Returning Officer Emily Amongin and her team reportedly stopped reading out results obtained by each candidate from individual polling stations, a procedure candidates say is essential for transparency, and instead proceeded to announce winners.
Some candidates alleged that the microphone was deliberately muted while figures were being compiled, limiting public scrutiny of the tallying process. Amongin declared nine winners for the LCIII chairperson positions, but councillors remained at the tally centre until almost midnight, demanding the issuance of their DR forms, which Amongin declined to issue, saying they would be ready the following week.
Security personnel later forced the councillors out of the tally centre, leading to protests from some declared winners who claimed their victories had been overturned. Harriet Najjuma, a National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, claimed her victory had been reversed in favour of National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Olivia Nassanga, despite holding declaration forms indicating wins across polling stations.
At around 3:00pm, Amongin declared nine winners for the LCIII chairperson positions whose results had been tallied since Wednesday night. She read out results from more than two sub-counties before her assistants took over the process.
By about 6:00pm, Amongin resumed control of the microphone and announced winners for all remaining sub-counties, including Koome and Ntunda, whose polling station results were not publicly read at all.
The Returning Officer then proceeded to declare winners for various councillor positions, took a break, and returned at around 8:00pm to declare more councillors, finalizing the process at around 9:00pm.
Councillors remained at the tally centre until almost midnight, demanding the issuance of their DR forms, but she declined to issue them, saying they would be ready the following week. Security personnel later forced them out of the tally centre.
Some declared winners left the tally centre without incident, but others protested, claiming their victories had been overturned.
Several candidates reported that their attempts to seek clarification or lodge immediate complaints were hindered by the heavy police deployment, which restricted access to election officials.
The Mukono Division Crime Intelligence head, who oversaw security at the tally centre, reportedly advised aggrieved candidates that election officials were carrying out their duties and should not be interrupted.
Harriet Najjuma, a candidate affiliated with the National Unity Platform (NUP), claimed her victory had been reversed in favour of National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Olivia Nassanga, despite holding declaration forms indicating wins across polling stations. She accused election officials of misconduct, allegations that could not be independently verified.
Similarly, Jane Nakayenga, another NUP candidate from Nakifuma-Naggalama Town Council, alleged collusion between election officials and her NRM opponent, saying the process denied her a legitimate victory. She called for reforms to strengthen electoral justice.
Several other candidates echoed accusations of bribery and irregularities, with supporters alleging that some contestants influenced outcomes through financial inducements. We were however unable to independently confirm these allegations at the time of reporting.
Despite the controversy, preliminary results showed the NRM securing the majority of LCIII chairperson seats. Of the 18 positions contested, the party lost five, including Mukono Central Division, Goma Division, and Kasawo Town Council to NUP candidates, as well as Nakifuma-Naggalama and Ntenjeru-Kisoga town councils to independent candidates.
