Sembabule Residents Protest Election Suspension, Demand Fresh Polls

SEMBABULE -- Residents of Katoogo Village in Nakasenyi Sub-county, Sembabule District, have protested the suspension of village council elections, demanding that the Electoral Commission organise fresh polls. The residents staged a protest, carrying placards and chanting slogans demanding their right to vote and elect leaders of their choice. Some residents gathered in groups while others moved around the village, expressing frustration over what they described as a leadership vacuum that has left Katoogo without an elected local council. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines They said they want elections held as soon as possible so they can choose leaders to address challenges affecting the community. The residents also accused former village chairperson David Senkima of continuing to use the official village stamp despite the expiry of his term, which they said was unlawful. "We want elections to be held immediately so that we can get leaders to represent us. We do not understand why the Electoral Commission cancelled our election without giving us a clear reason," the residents said. They further said they were dissatisfied with the continued leadership of the former chairperson and wanted an opportunity to elect new leaders. However, the Electoral Commission gave a different account of why polling was suspended. Suzan Asimwe, the district's deputy EC boss, said voting at Katoogo was disrupted after residents protested on polling day and allegedly destroyed the voters' register. She said the situation became chaotic, forcing electoral officials to suspend the election. "On polling day, the residents protested and even tore up the voters' register. There was a lot of disorder, and this forced us to suspend the election in Katoogo," Asimwe said. She added that the Electoral Commission had also received written complaints from some Katoogo residents requesting that the election be cancelled for various reasons. According to Asimwe, the complaints were forwarded to the Electoral Commission Chairperson for guidance, and district officials are awaiting a decision. Asimwe also clarified that Senkima, who previously served as village chairperson, currently has no authority to use the official village stamp because Katoogo has no elected leadership. "At the moment, Senkima David has no authority to use the village stamp. The village currently has no elected leadership," Asimwe said. Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy . We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Sembabule Deputy Resident District Commissioner Faisal Seruwajji advised the protesting residents to formally submit their grievances to the Electoral Commission, saying it is the legally mandated institution to determine how the matter should be handled. "We advise the residents to submit their complaints to the Electoral Commission because it is the institution mandated to make a decision on this matter," Seruwajji said. He also warned the former village chairperson against using the official village stamp before fresh elections are held and new leaders are elected. "The former chairperson should not attempt to use the village stamp before the elections are concluded because doing so could create legal problems for him," Seruwajji warned. The residents are now waiting for the Electoral Commission to provide guidance on when the suspended elections will be held, amid continued calls for new leadership in Katoogo. Read the original article on Nile Post . AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government p