By Weswa Ronnie
KASESE
Police in the Rwenzori East Region on Thursday, 8th May, 2025 arrested the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Registrar for Ibanda Kyanya Town Council, Mr. Moris Kitenge, following the mysterious disappearance of 15 party voter registers intended for the ongoing village chairperson elections in Busongora County North.
Mr. Kitenge was taken into custody and is currently being held at Ibanda–Kyanya Police Station as investigations continue. Authorities indicated that he will face court proceedings once inquiries are finalized.
According to initial accounts, NRM officials assigned to oversee the election process in different villages raised the alarm after waiting unsuccessfully for Mr. Kitenge to deliver the registers. Upon attempting to retrieve the documents from his location, they reportedly found nothing, prompting them to alert the police.
Regional police spokesperson SP Nelson Tumushime confirmed that Kitenge is being investigated for allegedly interfering with the electoral process and contributing to the disappearance of the 15 registers.
“It is suspected that the registrar manipulated the voter lists, resulting in their loss. This triggered his arrest by the police,” SP Tumushime said.
He noted that efforts are underway to recover the missing documents so that affected communities can still take part in the elections. “We are working to trace the lost registers and ensure those villages are not excluded. We urge the public to work with security personnel if they notice any irregularities,” he added.
SP Tumushime also reassured voters not to be alarmed by the presence of security forces during the elections. “Remain calm and vote freely. The deployment of security is simply to uphold peace and order,” he said.
He further called on citizens to collaborate with security agencies, including the Uganda Police Force, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), to guarantee a fair and peaceful electoral process.
The incident has raised concerns among voters in the affected areas, leaving several NRM supporters uncertain about the election timeline
