Big Story: Kampala returning officers cite bribery in electoral process

Returning officers for the five divisions in Kampala have expressed concerns over bribes being given presiding officers to alter results on declaration forms.

Robert Mugabe the returning officer for Kawempe division, Ivan Munanura returning officer Makindye division and Doreen Musiime returning officer Kampala Central division said several bribes have been given to presiding officers to alter results after they have been declared at polling stations.

Mugabe said the hiccups that came up with the declaration of Makerere University male councilor and direct councilor of Kawempe South Division I was because of presiding officers who received bribes.

“We have identified the presiding officers and we are going to open a case and instruct police to arrest them alongside the politicians who influenced them,” Mugabe said.

Musiime said results from Kololo and Nakasero were delayed by presiding officers and this affected her declaration schedule. Kampala Central had the least number of candidates with only two direct councilors and one-woman councilor but winners were declared amidst protests by agents and candidates.

All the three elective positions in Kampala Central were scooped by National Unity Platform candidates. Francis Mbazira won Nakasero I with 5,577 votes followed by NRM’s Kizito Moses Nsubuga with 3,071, Moses Katabazi won Nakasero II with 10,227 followed by DP’s Labson Kijjambu with 2,768 while Mavis Nakitende won Central division woman councilor with 12869 votes followed by NRM’s Eva Birungi who polled 9,141.

Munanura said only four of 11 elective positions had issues with delayed or tampered with polling station declaration forms. Makindye has 385 polling stations which according to Munanura give temptations for politicians to think since they are many a few can be altered through bribing presiding officers.

In Makindye results on altered declaration forms were ignored and it was resolved that they go with figures already being possessed by agents of various candidates. It is reported in one of the polling station in Kawempe a presiding officer was offered 2 million shillings while in Makindye one was offered 1.5 million shillings.