By Nanteza Ruth Walusimbi
JINJA
Fighting erupted in Buwenge Town council Jinja district on Tuesday 19th May 2026 during elections of a speaker prompting the security to suspend the exercise to an unspecified date. It took the intervention of Kiira North police division to prevail over the fighting.
This happened during the swearing-in ceremony of the Chairperson of Buwenge Town council, Ismail Ozanya and election of Town council speaker and committee for the next five years.
The contest for speakership had attracted three people namely, Nicholas Isabirye, Matege Ramathan and Matia Isabirye.
Trouble erupted after Isabirye Nicholas and Matege Ramathan tied with 7 votes each while Isabirye Matia got 2 votes.
This didn’t go well with villagers who came to witness the exercise and accused Nakyaze Olivia, the councilor for Kasalina south-Buwenge town council of betraying them and pounced on her, thanks to the police that swiftly swung into action.
While speaking to rowdy supporters, they said they wanted to discipline councilor Nakyaze for betraying them by voting for Matege Ramathan.
This prompted police to fire live bullets to disperse the locals and later the security team led by Jinja Resident District Commissioner, Hajji Ahmed Katerega Musaazi, DISO Kanywanyi Andrew, and OC operations Mawerere Fred postponed the elections indefinitely.
Relatedly, the mayor Ozanya Ismail called for restraint among the councilors for the good of Buwenge town council.
