Uganda Electoral Commission: Kanoni LC1 Election Cancellation Sparks Violence Threat

• Residents of Kanoni Town Council in Uganda's Gomba District warn of violence if the LC1 chairperson election, scheduled for September 23, is cancelled again.
• The election has been repeatedly postponed since July 28, with residents alleging incumbent Abel Wasswa Mukatuliki's absence caused multiple cancellations.
• Residents accuse Mukatuliki, who they say has served for nearly 40 years, of continuing to use the Kanoni village stamp, raising fears about property transaction validity.
• Kanoni is reportedly the only village in Gomba District where the LC1 election remains unresolved.
• The Electoral Commission, through Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, has assured residents that September 23 will be the final election date.

Residents express profound worry that their houses, some of which have been mortgaged to banks, and their plots, involved in what they describe as unclear transactions, could be legally compromised.

Residents in Kanoni Town Council, located within Uganda's Gomba District, are issuing stark warnings of potential violence should the long-awaited LC1 chairperson election be cancelled again. After nearly two months of repeated delays, the community is demanding that the Electoral Commission proceed with the scheduled vote on September 23. This critical election for a village chairperson has been uniquely stalled in Kanoni, making it the only village in Gomba District where the LC1 leadership remains unresolved, according to local residents.

The frustration has reached a boiling point, with residents explicitly threatening physical confrontations, destruction of property, and attacks on the homes of individuals they hold responsible for the protracted impasse. These grave concerns have been directly communicated to Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, whom residents claim they have already contacted regarding the numerous postponements. The community's message is clear: they expect the election to take place as promised, and another cancellation could have severe repercussions.

The contentious history of the Kanoni LC1 election cancellation in Uganda traces back to July 28, the date when village chairperson elections were conducted nationwide across 71,214 villages. The initial voting process, which involved citizens lining up behind their preferred candidates, representatives, portraits, or symbols, reportedly began peacefully in Kanoni. However, residents allege that the situation quickly deteriorated when it became apparent that incumbent Abel Wasswa Mukatuliki was attracting fewer voters than his independent challenger, John Katweere. According to residents, Mukatuliki then departed, leading to a disruption of the process.

Following this initial incident, the Electoral Commission reportedly instructed voters to return the next day, July 29, for a fresh vote. Residents claim that Mukatuliki and his supporters failed to appear, resulting in another cancellation. A new polling date was subsequently set for August 1. Despite residents gathering at the Kanoni Government Health Centre on this date, the election was once again called off due to Mukatuliki's reported absence. This pattern repeated on August 14, with Mukatuliki again failing to show up, prompting Ivan Munanura, the Electoral Commission's Gomba District Returning Officer, to inform residents that a new date would be communicated. The Electoral Commission later announced September 17 as another polling date, but this election also failed to materialize due to Mukatuliki's non-appearance, further fueling local frustration.

Amidst the ongoing electoral deadlock, residents of Kanoni have voiced serious accusations against Abel Wasswa Mukatuliki, the incumbent chairperson. They claim that despite the failure to conclude a fresh election and his term effectively ending, Mukatuliki continues to wield the Kanoni village stamp. This alleged misuse of official authority has sparked significant anxiety within the community, particularly concerning the validity and security of property transactions.

Residents express profound worry that their houses, some of which have been mortgaged to banks, and their plots, involved in what they describe as unclear transactions, could be legally compromised. They highlight the pain caused by Mukatuliki retaining the village stamp, given the unresolved electoral situation. Mukatuliki is said to have led Kanoni for nearly 40 years, adding another layer of complexity to the current dispute over his continued influence and the legitimacy of actions taken under the village's official seal.

The repeated LC1 chairperson election postponements in Kanoni have led residents to directly appeal to the highest levels of the Uganda Electoral Commission. After the September 17 cancellation, community members approached Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, presenting their grievances and demanding a definitive resolution. In response, the commission reportedly assured them that September 23 would be the final and conclusive date for the election.

With this commitment in hand, the residents are now steadfastly demanding that the Electoral Commission honor its word. The broader context of Uganda's electoral process, where the commission had initially scheduled polling in tens of thousands of villages and later organized repeat votes for areas experiencing chaos or disruption, underscores the expectation for a fair and timely resolution in Kanoni. The community's demand is simple: an election, free from further cancellations, to finally determine their village leadership.

Lawyers should advise clients on the potential legal challenges to property transactions or official endorsements made using the Kanoni village stamp, given the unresolved LC1 election and allegations of an illegitimate incumbent. Compliance officers should also note the heightened risk of civil unrest in the area due to prolonged electoral disputes.

Source: Original reporting via local sources