CEWIT’s Experience in observing Butambala County by-elections

The journey to Butambala District was another new experience in my field of governance in Uganda. This time it was not training the monitor or having feedback meetings with the district Authorities but observing the electoral process for the Member of Parliament in Butambala County after court had nullified election of Hon. Kikulukunyu after a petition by Kivumbi accusing  Kikulukunyu of  voter bribery.  With the Tags accredited observer by the electoral commission secretary on neck, we  headed to Butambala as a team of six people from CEWIT Offices.

 Although we did not know the road that leads to Butumbala as a team we were confident that we would find the right place phone thanks to the Emma who used the  smart Phone that acted us a guiding tool for direction and within an hour we had reached Butambala district. No wonder, on the first sight one would see the tension of the community members because of heavy deployment of the police at all the 13 polling station visited. It is not surprising that inspector general of Police Gen. Kaihura had joined the police and ready to prevent violence related incident which would affect the voting process for 5 candidates contesting for elections and these are Kivumbi Muhammed Muwanga, Faisal Kikulukunyu, Ibrahim Batemyetto, Ssentomgo Shariff and Farouk walungama.

 Our work started when we visited Nakatooke Umea P/S polling station where 100 voters had  voted out of 411 registered voters.  Three candidates had agents at the polling station while Farouk Walungama was the candidate who did not have an agent at most of the polling stations. We later headed to Kabira polling station by 12:30 and we were surprised that there were no electoral commission staffs putting on uniforms.  We visited 13 polling station, it was important to note that elections between 7:30 and 8:30 where the delay was caused by time taken offloading and distributing voting materials. Unlike the usual complaints that the voting materials were not enough,  this time it was the reverse as it was proved in all the polling stations visited the voter materials (the voters register, ink, ballot papers) were enough.

Together with my colleagues, John, Jane, Rosee, Vincent and Emma we visited the tally centre at 4: OO Pm and there was heavy police deployment at the centre with several police vehicles and antiriot untouchable vehicles. The situation was cum and the members for the voting process to end and process of tallying to begin after 5:00 PM.

The results were announced as follows by EC at 12:00PM where Kivumbi Muhammed Muwanga  had 14,764 votes, Faisal Kikulumunyu 12,792 votes, Ibrahim Batemyetto 150 votes, SSentongo sheriff 124 votes and Farouk Walungama got 60 votes.  Basing on the results of this election, i feel there is still need for increased CIVIC education as the number of invalid votes is still high for example 6 votes were invalid at mayugwe while at Kyerima polling station 16 votes were invalid. There is need for improved time management in the process of starting elections as most elections started late compared to 7:00 am when election are supposed.  It would be unfair I do appreciate the good practice of having a supervisor on every polling station was a very good practice that should be replicated in other elections. With the above I feel the electoral process in Butambala was relatively free and fair.

Sheila K
RWECO