“Ndagire halted the process before it was concluded and told us she was calling Ssekirya and security personnel to intervene. How then does Ssekirya come and declare Kafeero the winner in an election that was never concluded?” Lukenge asked.
Dickson Lukenge Nsabwa, the son of the Bishop of Mukono Diocese, Rt. Rev. Enos Kitto Kagodo, has rejected the results of the Mukono Hill Cell LC1 chairperson election in Mukono Central Division, alleging that the exercise was marred by several electoral irregularities.
Lukenge, who contested as an independent candidate, claimed that the election did not comply with Electoral Commission guidelines and accused election officials of mishandling the voting process. He alleged that non-residents were allowed to participate in the election and that officials failed to follow the prescribed voting procedures.
The disputed election was held at Bishop East Primary School playground in Mukono Hill Cell, home to Bishop’s Senior School, Bishop East and Bishop West Primary Schools, Mukono Cathedral and Uganda Christian University (UCU). Lukenge faced Ibrah Kafeero, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer, who serves as a cook at Bishop East Primary School.
Polling was temporarily suspended after Lukenge and his supporters challenged the conduct of the exercise. They accused the presiding officer, Sarah Ndagire, of failing to follow Electoral Commission procedures by calling out voters’ names from the register and personally conducting voter sensitisation before voting commenced.
The dispute prompted Ndagire to halt the exercise and invite the Mukono Central Division Returning Officer, Robert Ssekirya, to resolve the matter. After listening to the complaints, Ssekirya concluded that the voting process had already been completed and declared Kafeero the winner.
“Kafeero has emerged the winner. Anyone dissatisfied with the results should file a formal petition with the Electoral Commission if they wish to challenge them,” Ssekirya said.
The declaration sparked protests from Lukenge and his supporters, who demanded that a fresh election be conducted.
Dressed Like Ladies to Dupe Men, TikTok Personality Sinful Bae Sparks Online Debate
“Ndagire halted the process before it was concluded and told us she was calling Ssekirya and security personnel to intervene. How then does Ssekirya come and declare Kafeero the winner in an election that was never concluded?” Lukenge asked.
Addressing journalists after the declaration, Lukenge accused Ssekirya of bias and insisted that the election was characterised by irregularities. He alleged that people who were not residents of Mukono Hill Cell were allowed to vote after the returning officer declined to verify voters by reading out their names from the register.
The Vicar of Mukono Cathedral, Rev. Daniel Balabyekkubo, also criticised the conduct of the election, saying residents had turned up peacefully to vote but election officials hurriedly declared the results despite unresolved concerns surrounding the process.
Kafeero welcomed the victory and thanked residents for entrusting him with the leadership of the cell. He pledged to serve all residents fairly and without discrimination.
“I have served as the LC1 Secretary for Defence for the past 10 years. I decided to contest after our chairperson left the village. I am grateful to the residents for the confidence they have shown in me, and I will work to serve everyone,” Kafeero said.
Meanwhile, in Upper Nabuti Village, National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Paul Nsubuga defeated NRM’s Amos Ssekabira, securing 129 votes against 22.
Nsubuga, who previously served as the village’s Secretary for Defence, thanked residents for their support and pledged to continue serving them with dedication and integrity.
Ugandan Domestic Worker Dies in Saudi Arabia as Authorities Investigate Circumstances
