By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has outrightly rejected the election results of Soroti East by election over irregularities
On Thursday evening, the Soroti City electoral comission returning officer Ms. Eyu Christine declared NRM’s Ariko Herbert the winner of Soroti East by election after he garnered 9,407 votes against the second runner up, Moses Attan (FDC) who got 8,771votes.
However, the FDC says they do not agree with the outcomes threatening to challenge the election in courts of law.
“We cannot accept results of Soroti election which was declared by the EC. We are gathering evidences and evaluating them with a view of going to court. We argue the people of Soroti to stay calm as we are taking the next course of action.” FDC said
This was revealed by John Kikonyogo, the deputy spokesperson of the FDC during a press briefing at Najjanankumbi on Monday
He questioned the relevance of multiparty discrepancies and national dialogue to Uganda’s electoral democracy.
“Is it still useful to continue with this issue of dialoguing as parties? Won’t you be sick if you continue with such organisations like IPOD, does it make sense?” woundered Kikonyogo.
FDC accuses the EC and some government officials like RDCs, Vice President Maj. Jesca Alupo and Premier Robinah Nabbanja of masterminding election violence in Soroti.
“State machineries such as RDCs, and high ranking NRM officials were petsonally engaged in the irregularities like ballot stuffing, voter bribery, intimidations and imprisonment.” FDC alleged
“The EC cannot be excluded in this whole illegal process. It touches our bad nerves that the election which was supposed to be free and fair was rigged while the EC chairperson and his commissioners were just watching,” Kikonyogo added
Asked whether they were going to participate in the upcoming by elections in Bukimbiri county, Gogonyo county and Busongora south, Kikonyogo had this to say; “FDC is not a party that is going to be cowed out of these elections. We are studying situation by situation but we cannot tell you our next move here.”
He condemned the unlawful arrest of FDC members in Soroti and further disclosed that 15 of their supporters (not identified) are still under detention and their whereabouts are unknown.
“Over 100 persons including the FDC president, MPs and our polling agents were arrested in Soroti. Many of them have been released but 15 people are still missing. We do not know where they are being detained,” said Kikonyogo
