Uganda Police say they are holding 61 individuals including 4 members of parliament from the opposition political party National Unity Platform (NUP) on allegations of committing several electoral offences in Kayunga.
Voters in the district are Thursday voting in a by-election to fill the LCV chairperson seat that fell vacant after the death of Ffefeeka Serubogo Muhammad. The former member of National Unity Platform (NUP) was found hanging on a tree.
The detained suspects who include MPs Aloysius Mukasa (Rubaga South), Lukyamuzi David Kalwanga (Busujju), Tebandeke Charles (Baale) and Sserukenya David (Sabagabo) where arrested on Wednesday and temporarily held at Nazigo Police Station before moving them to Naggalama Police Station in the night.
ASP Hellen Butoto, the Sezibwa region police spokesperson says the arrests were based on ‘credible’ intelligence that the suspects were mobilised or mobilising to cause violence and disrupt the voting process.
“As a result, 51 suspects including 3 Hon. MPs were arrested, for campaigning beyond the deadline, disobedience of orders and for violating the curfew provisions,” explains Butoto.
For Sserukenya’s case in particular, Butoto says he was arrested on allegations of voter bribery.
“So far 61 suspects have been arrested for various electoral offenses. The majority of whom were mobilized and ferried to Kayunga, from Makindye, Kawempe, Rubaga, Nabweeru and Wakiso. They are being processed for further court action,” she adds.
Meanwhile, vote counting has started at most of the polling stations in the area. Tight competition is between NUP’s Harriet Nakweede and NRM’s Andrew Muwonge.