By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) candidate for Ajuri County in Albetong District, Fred Jalameso, has asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to immediately declare him the duly elected Member of Parliament, accusing election officials of tampering with results.
Jalameso said he polled 14,331 votes (44.5%) against 12,963 votes (40.25%) garnered by the incumbent and Government Chief Whip, Denis Hamson Obua. He alleged that the district returning officer, Jessica Ochen, irregularly handled the tallying process.
Addressing journalists at UPC headquarters Kampala on Tuesday, Jalameso said results from only 160 out of 178 polling stations were tallied, leaving out 18 polling stations. He claimed the omission significantly affected the final outcome.
“These results were tallied from 160 polling stations out of 178, meaning results from 18 polling stations were not included,” Jalameso said, adding that figures announced did not correspond with declaration forms issued to his agents and those of other candidates.
He further alleged that ballot boxes from the affected polling stations were returned without declaration forms, and that figures on the available forms by the candidates differed from those used in the tally centre, which he described as a deliberate attempt to deny him victory.
Jalameso maintained that when results from the 18 polling stations are added, he still beats Obua by more than 500 votes. He said he obtained an additional 766 votes from the disputed polling stations, bringing his total to 15,097 votes, compared to Obua’s adjusted total of 14,591.
“This still gives a difference of over 500 votes. The law requires a simple majority. Even if I had won by one vote, I should be declared,” Jalameso said.
He rejected calls for a recount or re-run, arguing that the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Act does not provide for a fresh election under the circumstances he described.
“I will not accept a re-election. The conditions that warrant a rerun did not arise on polling day. What I am demanding is an official declaration,” he said.
He accused the returning officer of colluding with the incumbent but said his team detected the alleged irregularities in time. He stressed that contesting and defeating a government chief whip was not a crime.
The UPC candidate said he has since petitioned the Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala and is awaiting a response.
“We officially lodged a petition with the Electoral Commission yesterday and we are waiting for official communication,” he said.
The Electoral Commission has reportedly proposed a recount of the votes, a move Jalameso said he has rejected, insisting that he should instead be declared the winner.
