Cyprian Musoke and Joel Ogwang
30 April 2008
Kampala — The Police yesterday held Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago for several hours after alleging that state minister for housing Michael Werikhe was involved in malpractice in the Buikwe South by-election.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said Lukwago was held at Lugazi Police Station with two supporters of the Democratic Party candidate, Dr Lulume Bayiga, for "breach of peace and inciting violence."
She said the MP's allegations were false.
He was cautioned and released, she added.
Deputy spokesperson Samson Lubega said Lukwago was held to help them verify his allegations of ballot stuffing by Werikhe.
"He reported that information but we found no activity having searched all classrooms."
Werikhe made a statement at Buikwe Police Station but refused to comment on the incident. In reaction, Lukwago said residents alerted him about a fictitious polling station.
"I only pointed out to the Police the suspicious incident.
"This would have been enough for them to call the minister to substantiate instead of asking me who was only helping them."
Four other people were arrested over malpractices.
Stella Kiggundu and Jalia Nakigude were accused of distributing 'waragi' at a polling station, while Samuel Sekisambu and Ahmed reportedly threatened violence and engaged in bribery.
The front-runners in the hotly contested election were NRM candidate Anthony Mukasa and Bayiga.
Trailing them were independents Allan Gita and Abdu Kimbowa.
The seat fell vacant when the Supreme Court upheld a High Court ruling which nullified Mukasa's election after finding him guilty of bribing voters during the 2006 polls.
Unofficial results put Bayiga ahead in Ngogwe sub-county, with 1,259 votes in eight polling stations.
Mukasa had 509 votes.
At Ngogwe trading centre polling station, by midday, 192 people had turned up for voting.
Presiding officer Gubere Nsubuga said he was impressed with the turn-up.
Electoral commissioner Joseph Biribonwa said the poll was peaceful.
"The exercise has been peaceful except for people who complained that they are not on the list."
He refuted reports that voting materials delayed.
"If there are four people, we don't open the ballot boxes; that may be seen as delaying the process."
The opposition also complained of a heavy deployment of security to intimidate voters.
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