Newslex Point News in Uganda, Uganda news
UPDF Soldiers and other security personnel, yesterday violently grabbed voter registers from polling agents. This happened at a number of polling stations in Entebbe Municipality and thereafter. The soldiers took over management of the mayoral elections.
Both the opposition members and members of the ruling party NRM accused the army of interfering in the election process.
The UPDF was also accused of intimidating the supporters of different parties into voting for a specific person at the different polling stations.
There were sights of violence as security operatives beat one of the news reporters that were following the events at Banga-Nakiwogo polling station. They confiscated his phones as well as his identification documents and his tore his press jacket to pieces.
The reporter’s cry that he was just a journalist trying to cover the election process fell on deaf ears. The soldiers tortured him for close to 30 minutes. By the time they let him go, he had sustained serious injuries.
What the current mayor says
The incumbent mayor of Entebbe, Mr. Vincent Kayanja De Paul said the actions of the soldiers were a slap on the face of democracy. He also said the soldiers had no right to access voter registers, which are a preserve of polling officials.
‘’We have a challenge in polling areas that have UPDF soldiers as voters. These army officers are trampling on the rights and powers of polling agents and their candidates’’. The mayor said shortly after casting his vote in Katabi.
In response to this, the UPDF spokesperson, Brig. Flavia Byekwaso said what the soldiers did in Entebbe was very wrong. She also said the Army will investigate their officers’ actions.
Check Also;
- Bobi Wine House Arrest; Court Rules In Kyagulanyi’s Favor, Orders Army To Vacate His Premises
- Bobi Wine House Arrest: Nigerian Lawyer Drags Ugandan Government To The UN
- Moses Kibalama Narrates His Torture Ordeal Over NUP Case, Sues Government
Please use the button below to contribute to Newslex Point, Inc. using a credit card or via PayPal.
![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
