The leader of the ruling party, National Resistance Movement (NRM), in Aligoi Sub-county in Bukedea has died following violent clashes linked to chaotic local council elections in the district.
The violences in which Samson Wamimbi was allegedly attacked followed serious claims of syndicated rigging, voter disenfranchisement, and interference by state officials.
Wamimbi succumbed to injuries after he was allegedly beaten unconscious by an angry mob.
He was initially rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital and later referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital, but died while being transferred.
Local sources say violence erupted after residents allegedly caught the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) with pre-ticked ballot papers in favor of NRM candidate and incumbent sub-county chairperson Robert Kauka, whom locals claim was imposed on them through a fraudulent NRM primary election.
A confidential source told this publication that although Wamimbi was attacked, he was not the intended target.
“The real anger was directed at the RDC, whom residents accuse of carrying pre-ticked ballots,” the source said.
According to the source, the practice spanned the election cycle. Pre-ticked ballot papers were allegedly prepared from an unknown location and later stuffed into ballot boxes.
The source further claimed that in parts of Bukedea, no actual voting took place, with electoral activities allegedly conducted administratively rather than at polling stations.
It is also alleged that presiding officers who resisted the process were arrested and detained before being replaced by individuals reportedly ferried in from Kampala.
While these allegations remain unverified, they have fueled public outrage and raised questions over unusually high vote tallies recorded in the district, including claims that one parliamentary candidate secured over 68,000 votes, while the district chairperson reportedly garnered more than 180,000 votes.
A District Scarred by Election Violence
Bukedea has a documented history of election-related unrest. During a previous LC5 by-election, violence prompted investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, leading to the arrest and temporary remand of RDC William Wilberforce Tukei, who was later released and reinstated.
The district has also recorded past deaths of two murder suspects in police custody linked to election-related unrest.
Authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the incident, and efforts to obtain comment were unsuccessful.
The source requested anonymity, citing fear of reprisals.