Politics 26 August 2026 Nile Post
Kitagwenda Residents Protest After Elected Village Chair Denied Swearing-in
Frustration erupted in Ntara Central, Kitagwenda District, as residents protested the denial of their elected village chairperson, Justus Kakira, the oath of office. The Electoral Commission has suspended his swearing-in pending the resolution of an election petition. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/366790/kitagwenda-residents-protest-as-ntara-central-village-chairperson-is-blocked-from-swearing-in
Residents of Ntara Central in Kitagwenda Town Council expressed strong disapproval when their newly elected village chairperson, Justus Kakira, was prevented from taking his oath of office. Kakira, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, was declared the winner of the village elections but his swearing-in has been halted due to an election petition filed by his opponent.
The situation led to a protest during the general swearing-in ceremony for village and parish leaders, with locals voicing their anger over Kakira’s exclusion.
Kitagwenda Town Council Chairperson Patrick Turyamureba attempted to de-escalate the situation, urging for calm and patience. He emphasized that the council lacked the authority to override the Electoral Commission’s decision and that the matter was being handled through official electoral procedures.
Francis Kagoro, the Kitagwenda District Election Administrator, later intervened to explain the rationale behind the suspension. He clarified that the Electoral Commission has issued a national directive to suspend the swearing-in of any candidate whose election victory is being contested through a petition.
Kagoro stressed that this directive is a standard procedure applied nationwide to ensure electoral fairness and is not specific to Ntara Central or Kakira. He advised the residents to await the Electoral Commission’s final decision on the petition before any further action could be taken.
Kitagwenda District is one of several areas experiencing post-election disputes, highlighting a broader trend of challenges following the recent village chairperson elections across Uganda. The Electoral Commission has affirmed its commitment to resolving these petitions to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.