Supporters of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Masaka District have stormed the Electoral Commission (EC) offices, demanding that their party candidate, Joan Nalure, be declared the duly elected Woman Member of Parliament for Masaka District.
The protest followed a recent court decision in Masaka Municipality that overturned the victory of National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Rose Nalubowa after a vote recount.
Nalubowa had initially been declared the winner, but a court-ordered recount nullified her victory and declared Justine Nameere as the Woman MP for Masaka City.
NRM supporters in Masaka District insist the same standard should apply to their case.
“If the Electoral Commission was able to declare Nameere after a recount in Masaka City, why are they refusing to do the same for Masaka District?” one protester asked.
Last month, the Electoral Commission declared Joan Namutaawe of NUP as the Woman MP for Masaka District, defeating NRM’s Joan Nalure by about 500 votes.
However, NRM supporters maintain that Nalure was the actual winner and accuse the EC of refusing to announce what they claim are the correct results.
“Our candidate won with a clear margin, but the Electoral Commission refused to announce her victory,” another NRM supporter said.
“This is injustice and selective application of the law.”
The protesters appealed directly to President Museveni, asking him to intervene.
“We are asking the President to help us, just like it was done in Masaka City where justice was served,” said one of the demonstrators.
Tensions escalated after the Electoral Commission began announcing results for sub-county leadership positions, where NRM candidates reportedly won across Masaka District.
Protesters argued that these victories further indicate that Nalure could not have lost the Woman MP race.
“All LC V chairpersons and councillors who won here are from NRM. That alone shows that our Woman MP candidate was rigged,” said Zainah Nakidde, the chairperson-elect for Kyanamukaaka Sub-County.
Security was heavily deployed at the EC offices, with police and military personnel blocking protesters from accessing the premises to prevent possible violence.
Meanwhile, Joan Nalure called for calm among her supporters and assured them that the party would continue pursuing legal and constitutional means to reclaim what she described as their victory.
“I ask my supporters to remain peaceful. We shall fight for our win using the law,” Nalure said.
The situation remains tense as NRM supporters vow to continue pressing the Electoral Commission to review and announce what they believe is the rightful outcome of the Masaka District Woman MP election.
