The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has contested the electoral victory of FDC’s Paul Mwiru in the Jinja East by-election held on Thursday and threatened to challenge it in courts of law.
The Electoral Commission declared Mr Mwiru winner with 6,657 votes followed by NRM’s Nathan Igeme Nabeta who only garnered 5,043 votes.
According to NRM Secretary General, Justine Kasule Lumumba, the election was not free and fair because it was characterized by massive vote rigging, voter bribery and multiple voting.
“As NRM, we need to let you know about all that did not meet minimum electoral standards in this particular election. We have evidence implicating those from our rival camp who voted more than one time,” she said.
“At some polling stations, FDC officials in broad day light bribed voters and even rooted for votes from voters who were in the queue as the electoral officials and constables looked on,” she added.
Lumumba further explained that the NRM voters and supporters were intimidated and beaten by the FDC diehards, saying all this is a strong basis for them to defeat Mr Mwiru in courts of law.
“Some of our voters were beaten and threatened to be battered in case the NRM candidate wins, and since our people have ever been beaten by the same group in 2012, many of our voters feared and remained home. In some cases our team members were rescued by Police like at spire road where FDC supporters grabbed the NRM coordinator and attempted to clobber him,” Lumumba explained.
She said that the party has now tasked their legal team to analyze and verify the available evidence and determine whether to take legal action and reclaim their victory.
Thursday’s repeat election followed a ruling earlier this year by Court of Appeal that annulled Nabeta’s victory citing election illegalities and ordering for fresh polls.
Top leaders from both the NRM and the opposition graced Jinja to add their weight behind the respective candidates during the campaign period, including President Yoweri Museveni who called upon voters to send only those legislators who is aligned with NRM.
Dr Kizza Besigye, Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu were some of the opposition strong figures that campaigned for Paul Mwiru.