By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE DISTRICT
Youth leaders at the parish level in Bumasikye Sub-County, Mbale District, expressed their dissatisfaction with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party sub-county elections, citing numerous irregularities.
The elections, which were scheduled to take place on Friday, failed to occur due to a boycott by youth leaders from various parishes.
The youth leaders accused the district party registrar, Bonney Wamunga, of nominating Ivan Madali to run for the position of sub-county party youth chairperson despite his ineligibility.
They claimed that Madali was still serving as NRM parish registrar and had not participated in parish elections to qualify for the sub-county position.
Additionally, they alleged that genuine voters were removed from the register and replaced with forged ones, contravening party laws and the constitution.
The elections were postponed to Sunday yesterday, but Joseph Shemanya and his supporters boycotted the process, resulting in Ivan Madali being declared the winner unopposed.
During a press conference held today Monday at Bumasikye sub county,Shemanya rejected the results, demanding fresh elections and questioning Madali’s eligibility to contest.
Other youth leaders, including George Brian Wamukota and Denis Wokuti, expressed their readiness to petition the district party office, rejecting the results.
They accused the district party leadership of taking bribes and conducting sham elections, which could divide the party and impact NRM’s performance.
However Bonney Wamunga the Mbale district NRM party registerar, dismissed the allegations of bribery, stating that Ivan Madali had submitted a resignation letter four days before the election, making him eligible to contest.
Wamunga claimed that he attempted to persuade Joseph Shemanya to accept another position within the party, but Shemanya refused.
According to Wamunga, the conflict is fueled by MP aspirants with vested interests in the election.
