{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Blows, chaos in FDC Mbale primaries
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5:45 PM |
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Blows, chaos in FDC Mbale primaries
Delegates traded blows and assaulted each other at St Austin Cathedral Conference Hall in Mbale, as the Forum for Democratic Change conducted its primaries for members of parliament and local councils.
The Mbale primaries were hastily conducted on Sunday, a day earlier - with top party leaders saying they had information that the ruling party, NRM was planning to disorganize their primaries. According to the road map, the primaries were scheduled for Monday November 2.
Tororo County MP, Geoffrey Ekanya says they had to act fast to avoid chaos in their election in the district.
"We received information that the NRM wanted to pour a lot of money to disrupt our elections especially Mbale [which] is the heartbeat of eastern Uganda...We decided to ensure that we the fifth columnist of the NRM doesn't disrupt our elections", Ekanya said.
The primaries were conducted by party deputy electoral commissioner, Michael Kabaziguruka. There was however disagreements that led to physical clashes, after some members protested the decision. For the Mbale Municipality MP seat, Ronnie Peter Gidudu protested the way the election was conducted.
"...we were surprised by them telling us we were supposed to vote even the member of parliament for Mbale municipality. Yet we came knowing that we are going to only vet. The incumbent Jack Wamai Wamanga manipulated as you can see, I don't know where he got these hooligans that he is claiming that they are delegates. They were just [saying] one word kiggwa leero (it all ends today)", Gidudu said.
Kabaziguruka told members that the party did not have enough time to conduct primaries countrywide, the reason this election was done earlier than planned.
Wamanga was reelected Mbale MP FDC flag bearer but his camp accused Gidudu and his supporters of being NRM moles in the party.
In the other positions, Margaret Wokuri Madanda beat Robinah Masibo for Mbale Woman MP flag bearer. Ben Martin Wanda was unopposed for Bungokho South MP seat, while Gershom Wambede was unopposed as Bungokho North FDC flag bearer.
Incumbent Mbale Mayor, Zanday Mutwalib Mafabi, polled 140 votes against Siraje Mugoya's 43 votes.
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