Mukono/Kampala — Early results to filter through from Buikwe Sub County by elections showed that the DP candidate Dr Lulume Bayiga was still leading NRM's Anthony Mukasa.

Dr Bayiga had 422votes from three polling stations in Buikwe Sub county and neighbouring villages while Mr Mukasa had 285 votes. The other two independent candidates Allan Gitta and Abdallah Kimbowa were trailing with a handful of votes.

In Najja Sub-county, Dr Bayiga had 1,359 votes, while Mr Mukasa had 837 votes from four parishes. In Nkokonjeru Sub-county preliminary results indicated that Mr Bayiga had garnered 960 votes against Mr Mukasa's 677.

The early results prompted celebrations in Nkokonjeru by DP supporters.

In Ngogwe Sub county Dr Bayiga had so far gathered 636 votes while Mr Mukasa had 190 from three polling stations.

Dr Bayiga accused Mr Mukasa of having dished out money to influence voters. One presiding officer said the turn-out was good. The Buikwe South seat fell vacant after the High Court nullified the election of Mr Mukasa's for bribing voters.

Meanwhile, a cabinet minister along with several Democratic Party supporters was held yesterday by Police in Mukono over election related violence as voting opened in the Buikwe South parliamentary by-election.

State Minister for Housing, Michael Werikhe, whom DP supporters accused of creating an illegal polling station recorded a statement at Buikwe Police post and was later freed.

However, other DP faithful, who included Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago, were rounded up yesterday morning by plain clothed security personnel and locked up in Buikwe Police post before being transferred to Lugazi Police Station.

Police said Mr Lukwago and Mr Werikhe were involved in a verbal altercation that threatened to disrupt voting, prompting detectives to swing into action.

"They [Lukwago and Werikhe] were involved in a heated argument and as Police we had to intervene," said police deputy publicist Sam Lubega. Mr Lukwago was arrested because he confronted Mr Werikhe, accusing him of bribing voters.