Another presiding officer has been kidnapped in Bukomansimbi putting the voting exercise to a standstill for almost an hour.
The incident occurred at Kirinda polling station, in Kitanda Sub County, Bukomansimbi district when the presiding officer who is yet to be identified tried to block one of the NRM supporter’s from ballot stuffing.
Trouble started when a group of NRM supporters led by Ibrahim Matovu attacked Kilinda Polling station with pre-ticketed ballot papers trying to stuff them into the ballot boxes.
The attackers took the advantage of polling officers being alone at the polling stations since the voter turn up was very low.
The incident came just after hours after another presiding officer at Mbale – Kasansula Playground had also been kidnapped.
It is alleged that Matovu and his team has also confiscated three ballot boxes from Lukaawa polling station and 3 more others from Kilinda polling station.
This has prompted voters to become rowdy which has forced police to heavily deployed anti-riot police officers in Bukomansimbi.
The Southern Region Police Spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi says that the situation has been contained adding that polling has resumed at the affected polling stations where it had stopped following the standoffs.
Hajji Muhammad Kateregga one of the candidates told journalist shortly after the first incident that he is going to petition the electoral commission authorities to call off voting in all polling stations that have had such problems
Bukomansimbi district returning officer Rashida Najuka says that polling has been extended up to 5pm to enable all people exercise their rights of voting their leaders.
