Security for Sale? When Money Talks Louder Than Votes: Calls Grow for Investigation into Kabale Elections

All Catholic candidates for different Members of Parliament positions in Kabale were defeated in the recently concluded general elections held on 15th January and their defeat was, however, not a surprise, as it had allegedly been prearranged.

After last year’s NRM primaries, Ms Peace Rugambwa, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture and Local People, reportedly held a meeting with all five RDCs of Kabale District, the UPDF commander stationed at Kihumuro, and several top officials from the Kigezi Regional Police.

During the meeting, Ms Rugambwa allegedly told them that they had to help her prove to President Museveni that her appointment was not in vain and that it was impactful and her focus, she reportedly said, was to impress President Museveni, particularly in Rukungiri District, which is widely known as an opposition stronghold. She vowed to use her influence to ensure that only NRM flag bearers won Member of Parliament seats in Rukungiri District.

Similarly, in Kabale District, Rugambwa allegedly asked security officials to ensure that all NRM flag bearers won parliamentary positions, however, four out of the five RDCs reportedly stated that they were not willing to work with the NRM flag bearer for the Ndorwa West Constituency MP seat, Hon Eliab Naturinda Mporera. 

They openly told her that they had special attachments and interests in Minister David Bahati and wanted him to win the election by all possible means.

Ms Rugambwa reportedly said she would personally campaign for Naturinda but asked the officials to support her efforts in Ndorwa East, Kabale Municipality, and the Kabale District Woman Member of Parliament race. 

This request was reportedly accepted. She allegedly gave each attendee five million shillings and promised an additional ten million shillings if NRM flag bearers won the elections by all possible means.

During the same meeting, Kabale District Assistant RDC Martin Niwataho reportedly vowed to ensure that Hon Catherine Atwakiire Ndamira, the incumbent Kabale District Woman Member of Parliament, would not be declared winner regardless of the vote outcome. 

Niwataho also allegedly vowed to block Kabale Municipality Mayor Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha from winning the upcoming mayoral elections and he reportedly stated that he would rather die than allow anyone other than NRM flag bearer Sam Arinetwe to be declared Kabale Municipality Mayor.

Another Assistant RDC, Chris Turyomurugyendo, allegedly vowed to sacrifice everything he has to ensure that Denis Nzeirwe became the next Kabale District LC V Chairperson.

Ms Rugambwa reportedly assured them that if Kabale District registers a 100 percent victory for NRM flag bearers from LCIII chairpersons at the sub-county level upwards, each attending security official would receive an additional Ugx 5 million.

Kabale District RDC Major Godfrey Katamba and his assistant, Michael Kyakashari, reportedly promised Ms Rugambwa that her request would be fully delivered and they pledged to do their best to ensure that only NRM flag bearers were declared winners.

On the night of 15th, despite serious irregularities at 31 polling stations in Kabale where the number of votes cast for the Kabale District Woman Member of Parliament exceeded the number of registered voters, a meeting was convened behind Kabale Rukiiko Hall.

The meeting involved the same security officials and the Kabale District Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Aisha Nansubuga and they reportedly agreed that, regardless of the irregularities, Enid Origumisiriza would still be declared the winner.

This decision allegedly followed actions by security officials who ensured that votes were cast on behalf of deceased persons and individuals who never turned up to vote. It is claimed that groups of people and hired goons were positioned at different polling stations to carry out this task.

In Ndorwa East, despite missing declaration forms from 17 polling stations, it was still  resolved that Dr Protazio Begumisa would be declared the winner and dditionally, vote boxes from 11 polling stations went missing. When the Electoral Commission tasked Dr. Begumisa to produce the missing vote boxes and declaration forms, he returned with 11 boxes from Kaharo Sub-county which still contained no declaration forms.

After failing to reconcile the vote tallies, officials reportedly agreed to declare Dr Begumisa the winner, despite lacking declaration forms from approximately 23 polling stations and these missing results allegedly still placed the incumbent MP, Hon Wilfred Niwagaba, in the lead.

RDC Katamba allegedly stated that Dr Begumisa should be declared the winner despite the irregularities, arguing that since he was an NRM candidate, it would be difficult for Independent candidate Niwagaba to succeed in court.

Following what was described as a successful political plan, attention has allegedly shifted to the 2031 elections.

 In collaboration with leaders of the Diocese of Kigezi, plans are reportedly underway to unseat Rubanda East MP and Minister of Finance in charge of General Duties, Hon Henry Musasizi.

It is understood that businesswomen and businessmen affiliated with the Diocese of Kigezi will be required to deposit Ugx 20,000 weekly into a Stanbic Bank account registered in the names of Shadrach Musiime and the funds are reportedly intended to finance the campaign against Minister Musasizi in 2031, however, disagreements have reportedly emerged over who should contest against him.

While some Anglican Church leaders believe Joggo Kenneth Biryabarema is still capable of challenging Musasizi, others argue that a new face is needed and the final decision remains uncertain.

Peace Rugambwa is also reportedly committed to supporting efforts to remove Minister Musasizi from Rubanda East, although those involved acknowledge that it will not be an easy task, they believe it is achievable.

The alleged plan against Catholic candidates was reportedly executed through close collaboration with district security officials and by infiltrating the Catholic Church via leaders of small Christian communities known as Obutaagi. Chairpersons and vice chairpersons of Kataagi, along with catechists from each Catholic Hiika, were allegedly contacted and many were reportedly given Ugx 300,000 to support the plan.

One key strategy reportedly involved preventing these leaders from distributing money provided by Catholic candidates to voters and this followed claims that the Anglican Church had learned that Catholic candidates intended to use Obutaagi leaders to distribute campaign funds.

The alleged plan against Catholic candidates reportedly included beating, intimidation, and threats directed at both candidates and their supporters.

However, if these election irregularities are not addressed, it is feared that the NRM government risks losing support from the Catholic Church, which reportedly feels targeted at the expense of its Anglican counterparts.

The recent violence and bias against Catholic candidates and supporters are also believed to be deepening divisions among the people of Kabale.

Despite this, the Anglican Church is reportedly determined to continue using Peace Rugambwa’s influence, together with what is described as biased security forces, to suppress the Catholic Church, its candidates, and its voters, however, many Catholics have vowed to stand firm in defense of their religion, freedom and rights.