Hundreds of Kenyan nationals crossed into Uganda’s Busia District, sparking chaos during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) village party elections that began on Monday.
Busia, a border district between Uganda and Kenya, is home to ethnic communities like the Samia and Iteso, who share family ties across both nations, complicating voter identification.
The worst-affected areas were in Buteba Sub-county and Eastern Division, near the Kenyan border. In Buteba, voting was canceled in four villages—Alupe, Amagoro, Abochet, and Okame—after Kenyans from Teso South, Kenya, illegally participated.
Busia District NRM Chairperson Eric Masiga confirmed the cancellations, citing violations of the voter register, known as the “yellow book.” Elections in these villages were rescheduled for the following day.
In Eastern Division’s Marachi D, Sofia A, and Sofia B villages, voting was delayed due to allegations that candidates smuggled in Kenyan voters. After disputes, the process resumed, though Eastern Division NRM Registrar Linet Lilian Acheng noted that candidates rejected the yellow book verification, opting for a less stringent lineup method.
Elections were also postponed in several other sub-counties, including Dabani, Western Division, Masinya, Lumino, Lunyo, and Busime, due to issues like missing voter names and violence.
In Dabani’s Nangwe North, Nangwe South, and Shamitumba villages, polls were halted after residents found their names omitted from the register. Violence disrupted voting in Buyondi (Lumino) and Hadoda (Masinya), while in Nangwe Madibira (Western Division), elections were canceled over non-residents appearing on the voter list.
Clashes erupted in multiple locations. In Mugungu B (Eastern Division), police intervened to quell voter conflicts. Residents like Patrick Lomony reported being denied voting rights despite being registered, with allegations of manipulation by candidates.
In Marachi D, Sofia A, and Arubaine, disputes over ineligible voters fueled unrest. In Rukaka village (Busime Sub-county), police fired warning shots to disperse violent crowds.
A dramatic incident occurred in Kateke village (Buteba Sub-county), where LC1 chairmanship winner Lawrence Ikemeri was assaulted by his son, Stephen Okameri, who broke his father’s hand after losing the election.
Busia District Police Commander Alice Kuka confirmed that Stephen fled to Kampala, but a case was filed at Buteba Police Station. Two others were arrested for election-related violence.
NRM publicist for the Bukedi region, Rogers Mulindwa, attributed the disruptions to non-registered individuals attempting to vote. He noted that, despite challenges, voting continued in most areas of Busia District.
The chaos underscores the complexities of cross-border communities and the need for stricter voter verification in border regions.
