Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) grilled the Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday, demanding explanations regarding the integrity of the recently nullified Kawempe North by-election. The inquiry followed a High Court ruling that annulled the election results due to widespread violence and irregularities.
At the heart of the committee’s concerns were serious security lapses during the polling process. However, EC officials denied any responsibility for the breakdown in order, asserting that their role was limited and that security enforcement was under the jurisdiction of the Uganda Police Force.
“We reported all cases of destruction of election materials to the Police,” said Richard Kamugisha, Acting Secretary of the EC. He emphasized that the Commission did not request military intervention at any point during the by-election.
Kamugisha strongly defended the actions of EC personnel on the ground. “Our people were at the polling stations filling out declaration forms when they were chased away with stones,” he stated. “Should they have stayed and been stoned? I don’t know what wrong the Commission did.”
The High Court’s nullification of the by-election highlighted the severity of the disruptions, prompting COSASE to launch an inquiry aimed at uncovering the facts and determining accountability. The committee’s findings are expected to influence future electoral processes and security protocols across the country.
