UMAR Lule Mawiya was on Tuesday morning declared winner of the Kalungu East NRM card after polling 18,481 votes against Vincent Bamulangaki Sempijja’s 12,372 votes.
Masaka district NRM registrar Florence Nanyanzi announced Mawiya’s victory at the Kalungu district headquarters.
“I hope my colleague Bamulangaki Sempijja will join me to ensure that NRM succeeds in Kalungu East come next year’s general elections,” Mawiya said.
But Sempijja did not concede defeat and vowed to stand as an independent candidate next year.
“I have realised that in NRM, there are people who decide for others. What was the purpose of holding these elections?”
“I have learnt that my contribution in the UPDF was not necessary. Why did they camp in Kalungu East with all the machinery? It was not necessary to deploy almost all soldiers in the area during the counting of votes when there was no bloodshed,” Sempijja said.
Yesterday, UPDF spokesman Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye said the district Police commander requested for help from the Armoured Brigade commander in Masaka due to mobs that were threatening peace in Bukulula.
“The commander dispatched a minimal force, under a senior officer to render the needed support. What was done was a localised response to a local problem, and when the ballot boxes as well as election officials were safely delivered in Kalungu, the UPDF withdrew.”
He also dismissed Ssempijja’s claims that the Chief of the Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, was in Kalungu to decide the vote.
“On September 7, Nyakairima, was out of the country,” Kulaigye said.
For the Kalungu district Woman MP, Florence Kintu was declared winner with 21,501 votes.
Richard Kyabaggu was announced as the NRM party flag-bearer for the Kalungu district LC5 chairperson seat.
