A man in his 60s, identified as Silver Owomuhangi, was allegedly murdered for refusing to support his uncle, Henry Tumwijukye, during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party structure elections in Kabale District.
The elections involved various categories, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, the elderly, entrepreneurs, mainstream party leaders, workers, and LC1 NRM flag bearers.
Sources say Owomuhangi declined to support Tumwijukye and instead backed Wilber Turyarugayo in a hotly contested election held in Bugo Cell, Masamba Parish, Rubaya Sub-county.
Owomuhangi’s body was discovered on Wednesday morning, dumped along the path leading to his home, shortly after an election celebration.
According to Turyarugayo, during the celebrations at Bugo Trading Centre, Tumwijukye accused Owomuhangi of betraying him by supporting a rival candidate. Though tensions rose, the situation was initially calmed.
However, Turyarugayo said they were later shocked to find Owomuhangi dead, with visible signs of strangulation. The incident was immediately reported to the Sub-county police. Tumwijukye and his two sons, Victor and Naboth, were arrested to assist in the investigations.
Turyarugayo urged residents to prioritize peace and unity in the village and avoid being divided by politics.
As of press time, police had not officially commented on the matter.
Meanwhile, voting in 13 villages within Ndorwa West Constituency was suspended due to security concerns, voter omission from NRM registers, and incidents of election violence.
Susan Bigabwamukama, a resident of Nyakibande Village, Mwendo Parish, Kitumba Sub-county, reported that elections were halted in Nyakibande, Kanyankwanzi Village in Bukoora Parish, Kabira Village, Rwakanywiire Cell, Nyakyaato Cell, and Kahama II Cell in Kitumba Parish.
Silvano Rwambuka, a resident of Kibuga, confirmed that voting was unsuccessful in Busangano B and Rwaza Villages in Kibuga Parish, as well as Kyamboha Village in Rutare Parish, all within Kibuga Sub-county.
In Katuna Town Council, elections were also disrupted in Kakoma Cell, Mukarangye Ward, and Kabarisa Cell, Kyonyo Ward (specifically during the women’s league elections).
In Butanda Sub-county, Sylvia Turahi, a resident of Bugoto Village, reported voting was halted in Bugoto and Nyamiyaga Villages in Butanda Parish, as well as Kitokori Village in Nyamiryango Parish.
In Kahungye Sub-county, the voting process was similarly unsuccessful in Hamuharuro Village, Rwemihanga Parish, and Rutoma Village, Buramba Parish.
Kabale Resident District Commissioner, Godfrey Nyakahuma, stated that despite these issues, the elections in the 13 affected villages were conducted on Wednesday.
