By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
OYAM
A group of hooligans purported to be supporters of NRM have attacked a Presiding officer at Wang Lobo polling station, put him at gunpoint and ticked 250 ballots, about 5 booklets.
This act of hooliganism according to the presiding officer happened in the view of the police constables deployed at the station who were feared to disperse them as they were under the protection of armed police officers and the army.
“I had no option, they came and took ballot booklets about five of them, they’re standing there, they went and tick tick tick and after they returned the ticked ballots,” the presiding officer narrated his ordeal as he pointed to the direction of the police officers and the ticked ballots.
The incident attracted the attention of the UPC President Jimmy Akena, Electoral Commission and members of the political parties in the election.
Further reports indicate that the group was traveling in a numberless Toyota double cabin vehicle and they drove away to unknown destination shortly after the incident.
The UPC president demanded that the ticked ballots be withdrawn and a fresh election conducted at the affected polling station.
Commenting about the incident, Electoral Commission official condemned the incident noting that it’s regrettable. According to him, the incident was the first reported and voting was going on peacefully in other polling areas.
“Our desire is to have a free, fair and peaceful election. This incident has only happened here and it is regrettable,” he said
The commission heeded to the demands by Hon. Akena and voters to put aside the ticked ballots and a new ballot box was ordered at the polling station.
“It is unfortunate that some people came and did what they did, but we have decided that this ballot box (with ticked ballots) is going to be put aside. I have called the returning officer to give us another sealed and serialized ballot box to continue with this exercise,” he said
Situation is calm and voting has resumed at Wang Lobo polling station where hooligans purported to be @NRMOnline supporters stormed the station, put the presiding officer at gunpoint and ticked 250 votes. A new ballot 🗳️ has been put in place and voting is going on#ParrotsMedia pic.twitter.com/ImaL81euPB
— Parrots UG (@parrotsug) July 6, 2023
By press time, the situation was calm, voting has been resumed at Wang Lobo and it is going on.
In related stories, voters in Otwal subcounty have intercepted a motor vehicle Reg No.. UAM 184 allegedly carrying stuffed ballots for Wangolobo polling station, Barmele poling station and Acokare P7 school poling station in Oyam.
Residents chased the vehicle and it drove towards Otwal Subcounty headquarters where it is currently parked.
A closer look from the outside, indicates it is carrying bundles of money, ballot boxes and documents belonging to NRM.
