By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
SHEEMA
The Sheema Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Jane Asiimwe Muhindo, has denied allegations that she was arrested for bribing voters in Buhweju District.
Local media – Tayari TV reported on Thursday that Muhindo was arrested by voters in Nyakishojwa village, Rwengwe sub-county, after she was allegedly found giving out Shs2,000 to voters to influence the LC5 race.
The report alleged that she was later whisked away by her associates to an unknown location.
However, Muhindo dismissed the claims, describing a viral video as misleading and unfounded. She clarified she was never arrested and that the incident had been misrepresented.
In a video recorded later at her office, the RDC said she had gone to a shop at Nyakambu Trading Centre, which borders Sheema and Buhweju districts, to buy a bottle of mineral water when a suspicious crowd gathered, prompting her to leave.
“I was in a shop at the trading centre trying to buy a bottle of water, and then the community gathered. Given the election period, suspicion is always high, so I immediately left,” Muhindo said.
She added that an unknown person recorded a video during the incident and circulated it online with claims that she was bribing voters.
“There is some video making rounds on social media. Unfortunately, some media houses have posted it without hearing from me. Disregard that video for the content it deserves,” she said.
Muhindo maintained that she was at her office monitoring the electoral process in Sheema District and insisted that the security situation was calm.
“Sheema is calm. There is no cause for alarm. I am in office monitoring what is happening,” she said.
Muhindo, a former Kampala Resident City Commissioner (RCC), has previously served as RDC in Bunyangabu, Bushenyi and Rwampara districts.
The incident comes amid heightened political tensions as the country is holding the 2026 general elections, during which several RDCs, RCCs and their deputies across the country have been accused by opposition actors of openly supporting specific candidates, particularly the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer, and of interfering with opposition campaign activities.
Civil society have repeatedly warned public officers to remain neutral and uphold the law during the election period, in vain.
