By George Murumba

18^th Feb 2011

The 2011 Presidential Candidates

Reports reaching Uganda Correspondent indicate that chaos has broken out in most parts of the country as opposition supporters and their candidates clash with their opponents and security operatives.

Blood flows in the Elgon Sub-Region

In Budadiri West for example, supporters of incumbent MP Nandala Mafabi are fighting running battles with UPDF soldiers in Buwalasi and Bumuddu areas in Budadiri West. Soldiers in Mambas (armoured vehicles) have taken over security in Sironko District.  At one point, Mafabi’s supporters disarmed a soldier and forced others to flee for dear life.

FDC MP Nandala Mafabi himself, who is fighting to retain his seat against a stiff challenge from the Minister for the Presidency Beatrice Wabudeya, is reported to be bleeding on the left leg although details of what caused the injury are unclear at this stage.

Journalist Julius Odeke, who has written for Uganda Correspondent in the past few weeks, has also been shot on the knee [allegedly] by bodyguards of the Minister for the Presidency Beatrice Wabudeya. His has been rushed to hospital.

Sironko District Police Commander flees

In Sironko, the DPC Gerald Mbasa also took off after voters who were denied the right to vote asked him why police was mistreating them at Bugusege polling station.

Presidential candidates come face to face with EC incompetence

Dr. Kizza Besigye, the leading opposition candidate in the country who consistently campaigned against the Electoral Commission’s imcompetence, was today fully vindicated when discovered that his own name was missing from the voters’ register at his Poling Station.  Dr Besigye had been registered as a voter at Katenga Cell Municipal Stadium Polling Station. Instead he was advised to go to Rwakabengo Health Centre III Polling Station where he found his name and finally voted.

Samuel Walter Lubega, and independent presidential candidate, also got a rude shock after he discovered that his name was missing from the voters’ register for his polling station, Rainbow II Polling Station in Kawempe. Curiously, the presidential candidate was allowed to vote by Electoral Commission officials at the polling station. Lubega however declared that he will not accept the outcome of the election because of the irregularities that he has seen firsthand.

Dr. Abed Bwanika, another presidential candidate, was turned away from his Butikirwa Polling Station and advised to go and vote in Bukoto II Parish in Nkurabiro Trading Centre.  He said many people could miss voting all together because of the late changes brought without notice by the Electoral Commission.

Police constables detained in Iganga for aiding NRM bribery

In a related development, chaos erupted in Iganga District when FDC supporters detained eight special police constables for allegedly aiding NRM supporters to bribe voters.  The incident occurred at Walugogo  Estate in Iganga Municipal Council where the officers were allegedly caught with sachets of salt, sugar and bars of soap.

The officers were then locked up at the home of Abed Nassar Mudiobole, the FDC candidate for Iganga Municipality.  Iganga District Police Commander Mr. David Manzi has asked the complainants to file a formal complaint so that investigations into the incident can commence.

NRM candidate’s wife caught bribing voters in Kumi

Police in Kumi District are holding the wife of the NRM candidate for Kumi County Mr. Julius Omute who was allegedly found in possession of 14 cartons of salt, 6 boxes of laundry soap, 6 dozens of waragi, and 4 footballs.  END.  Please log into www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.