The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Mayuge District, Lt. Haji Ramathan Walugembe, has suspended Parish Development Model (PDM) committee elections across parts of the district following widespread chaos, irregularities and clashes involving candidates and voters.
The decision was taken after several incidents disrupted the electoral process in different parishes, raising concerns about transparency and security.
In Bubinge Parish, the elections were called off after residents protested alleged irregularities in the process, including claims that the name of one of the candidates was missing from the official register. The parish chief subsequently halted the exercise to prevent further tensions.
In a separate incident in Wante Village, Magada Parish, Imanyiro Sub-county, residents reportedly arrived at the polling venue armed with knives, clubs and stones, intending to disrupt the voting process. The situation prompted RDC Walugembe to intervene and suspend the elections before directing that the exercise be reorganised and conducted in a more orderly manner.
Walugembe instructed the Mayuge District Commercial Officer, Godfrey Mukakanya, to organise fresh elections on a new date and ensure that all procedures are followed.
He warned that anyone found interfering with the electoral process would face arrest and prosecution.
The RDC also reminded aspiring leaders that PDM committee positions are voluntary community service roles and do not come with salaries or government benefits.
“This is voluntary work. Why is it becoming a do-or-die affair?” Walugembe asked.
He urged candidates to refrain from inciting voters or sponsoring violence in their communities simply to secure election victories.
The Mayuge Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Abdu Batambuze, also cautioned candidates against treating the positions as avenues for personal gain.
Batambuze revealed that some aspiring leaders were allegedly spending money to influence voters, believing they would recover their expenditures once elected.
He called on residents to reject such candidates, arguing that genuine leaders should be motivated by service to the community rather than personal interests.
“There is nothing to gain financially from these positions. Those seeking office should do so to serve their communities, not to recover money spent during campaigns,” Batambuze said.
Meanwhile, Bugadde Town Council Mayor Jamali Ngobi Isabirye said the elections had become unnecessarily competitive because of a widespread misconception that committee members receive financial benefits.
He called on election officials to ensure fairness and transparency throughout the process so that communities can freely choose leaders they trust.
“The process should be managed fairly to allow people to elect representatives of their choice without intimidation or manipulation,” Isabirye said.
The Parish Development Model is a government initiative aimed at improving household incomes and transforming communities through parish-level development interventions. PDM committees play a key role in mobilising communities and overseeing the implementation of programme activities at the grassroots level.