By Wetondo Denis Julius
MBALE
A Section of Bamasaba has elected a parallel Cultural leader, bringing to two now claiming to replace Bob Mushikori, the outgoing Umkhuka.
The parallel elections took place yesterday, 11th December 2020 at Masaba Cultural Institution offices located at Malukhu Ward Industrial City Division in Mbale City.
John Wagabyalila was declared winner after polling 35 votes. He was followed by Gregory Gidaguyi 2, Stephen Kizumbo 0 and Patrick Mazina 0.
However, the elections were held after security initially attempted to stop the exercise arguing that the Assembly was illegal.
Before the election exercise, police and UPDF surrounded the whole offices of Masaba cultural institution to prevent any body from accessing the place.
During the deployment, Mushikori, the incumbent cultural leader was prevented from accessing his office until he sneaked inside using a backyard small gate something which angered his subjects.
Mushikori was later to blame police and UPDF for conniving with Mike Mudoma, the purported Umukuka to interfere with their work of electing a new cultural leader.
But later security allowed delegates to access the premises and they started conducting their elections as planned.
Geoffrey Wepondi, the General Secretary of Masaba cultural institution told this reporter that security accused them of holding an illegal election.
“Police should have stopped the election, swearing in and installation of Mudoma, the purported Umkhuka because his election was an illegality,” Mudoma said.
However, Baraza Ogajo, the Mbale Resident District Commissioner (RDC) dismissed the allegations that he connived with Mudoma to fail the election.
He added that their deployment of security followed an earlier threat by Mudoma at his press conference held at viola Hotel that they would cause chaos if the election was to be held.
Meanwhile, Mudoma has described the elections as illegal, null and void saying that he is the legal cultural leader of Masaba cultural institution.
He added that the people who convened and conducted the elections had their term of office expire in October meaning they are not valid.
