Africa-Press – Uganda. Tension erupted in Mukono District following the announcement of LC3 election results, with opposition candidates alleging bias and malpractice after the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) claimed victory in most sub-counties.
The Mukono District Electoral Commission on Thursday night released results after a two-day delay, declaring the NRM winner in 16 sub-counties and town councils, including Mpunge, Kyampisi, Katosi Town Council, and Nama.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) was announced as the winner in major urban areas such as Kasawo Town Council, Mukono Central Division, and Goma Division.
The delayed announcement sparked unrest at the commission headquarters, where some candidates reportedly fainted due to exhaustion and heightened tension.
Clashes occurred between NUP councillors and commission officials, with opposition figures accusing the Electoral Commission of acting under NRM influence to overturn their victories.
Security was heightened at the commission offices as councillors and district leaders, who had camped at the venue for two days, awaited the results amid fears of violence.
Several NUP candidates said results from areas where they claimed victory had not been officially declared, alleging continued interference by the NRM.
Confusion escalated when the Mukono District Electoral Commission chairperson reportedly announced NRM candidates amid objections from rival camps, prompting protests inside the commission premises.
Police struggled to restore order as demonstrators resisted removal.
Kyampisi LC3 aspirant Yasin Kagere rejected the announced results, saying the figures read by the commission did not match those on the Declaration of Results (DR) forms.
“The Electoral Commission acted in a biased manner. When we tried to raise complaints about results that did not match, police were ordered to chase us away, while NRM candidates freely accessed the returning officer at any time,” Kagere said.
NUP’s declared Mukono Central Division chairperson, Susani Bogere Nsensebuse, decried the treatment of opposition candidates, citing delays in declaring winners allegedly due to influence from NRM members.
“If someone has won, why delay declaring him or her for two days because of orders from above?” Bogere asked.
Joyce Nakito, councillor from Kisoga Ntenjeru Town Council, questioned the independence of the Electoral Commission, alleging that NUP candidates were forced to plead to be declared while others had their results overturned.
Some opposition candidates went further, proposing that local elections should either be abolished or left entirely to NRM candidates, arguing that the government is misrepresenting democratic processes.
Unlike the 2021 local government elections, where NUP won most lower-level positions in the district, the NRM secured a wider victory this time, taking 16 sub-counties compared to NUP’s three.
Opposition leaders continue to dispute the outcome, citing alleged fraud and irregularities.
