Chaos in Ntungamo Town as 30 NRM Supporters Arrested Over Disputed Election Result

NTUNGAMO, UGANDA – At least thirty NRM supporters were arrested on Sunday evening after staging a peaceful protest at the party offices in Ntungamo Municipality. The group, led by youthful politician David Aryatuha, was demanding answers from the district NRM Registrar, Maria Mirembe, over what they called the unlawful cancellation of his victory in the Nyamukana Town Council LC5 Councillor race.

The dispute began two weeks ago when

David Aryatuha being being arrested, a police officer leading him to the waiting police van at the NRM Party offices

official results from the party primaries showed Aryatuha had defeated veteran politician and businessman Amos Natuhwera. According to the tally, Aryatuha secured 1,284 votes against Natuhwera’s 1,265 votes.

The NRM registrar, Maria Mirembe, declared Aryatuha the winner and issued him the official declaration form (winners’ certificate)– the legal proof of his victory.

However, two weeks later, Aryatuha says he was shocked to receive a phone call from Mirembe asking him to return the declaration form, with information reaching him that she intended to declare Amos Natuhwera as the winner instead.

THE VILLAGE AT THE CENTRE OF THE DISPUTE

The disagreement focuses on Kitsyama Village, where Aryatuha won convincingly. According to the official results from the village presiding officer Alex Nkwasiibwe and his deputy, Aryatuha received 146 votes while Natuhwera got only 22.

Mirembe and Natuhwera now claim Aryatuha only received 46 votes in Kitsyama – a figure the presiding officer and his deputy dispute. They have signed a written statement confirming the original tally of 146 to 22.

Locals allege that at this village Mirembe and Natuhwera visited the village, met with residents, and offered cash amounts of UGX 15,000 to 20,000 to persuade them to support the reduced vote count.

NRM’s own electoral guidelines state that once a registrar declares a winner, their role in the process is complete. Any candidate who disputes the results must file a petition with the NRM Electoral Tribunal, which Amos Natuhwera did not do at all.

By personally cancelling Aryatuha’s win and declaring Natuhwera the winner, Mirembe is accused of acting outside the rules.

THE PROTEST

On Sunday, anger boiled over. Aryatuha and his supporters gathered at the NRM offices in Ntungamo Municipality to demand that the party explain why his victory was being overturned.

Some carried posters accusing Mirembe of corruption. Others called on First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni, who is also the NRM District Chairperson, to intervene and restore order.

David looked tired and chose to sleep on the dusty compound,with his angry supporters also sitting behind him.

David sleeping on the dusty compound at the NRM Party offices

One of the protesters, Nathan Muhangwa, 71, from Ishunga Village, Nyongozi Ward, Nyamukana Town Council, while speaking to our reporter said:

We believe our candidate is being stopped because of money. They have our results and the declaration forms. We are tired of NRM if the defeated are the ones to lead. Who will Amos lead yet we rejected him?

Another protester, Ronald Bakashaba, 31, added:

We are here to stand with our man. Amos bribed top bosses in the party. How do you steal an election we voted for by lining up? Isn’t this how opposition starts?

At the time of the protest, Maria Mirembe was at the NRM Party offices,and when he saw the peaceful protestors coming, she instructed the waiting police officers to close the entrance door.

She kept inside her office unmoved until police arrived to arrest the protesters. After the arrests, Maria Mirembe was seen peeping through the door to confirm if any protesters were remaining.

Despite our repeated calls, she didn’t not pickup our calls for the comment on this matter.

POLICE MOVE IN

The protest remained peaceful until police officers suddenly moved in, seizing posters and arresting everyone present.

The arrested supporters were forced into a waiting police van and driven away. By press time, it was believed they had been taken to Ntungamo Police Station, but details on their detention or possible charges were still unclear.

A DISTRICT UNDER SPOTLIGHT

The incident has sparked national attention because Ntungamo is the political home of the First Lady. Supporters are asking why such a political crisis should happen in her district and what it means for the party’s credibility elsewhere.

Apparently, Nyamukana Town Council has two declared winners for the same LC5 Councillor seat – one from the official results and another from the disputed declaration.

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