Kanoni Residents Threaten Violence Over Repeated LC1 Election Delays

Residents in Kanoni Town Council, Gomba District, have expressed extreme frustration over the protracted delays in their Local Council 1 (LC1) chairperson election, threatening severe consequences if the upcoming vote on September 23 is once again cancelled.

The election has been postponed multiple times since July 28, leaving residents in prolonged electoral uncertainty. The primary reason cited for the repeated cancellations is the alleged absence of incumbent chairperson Abel Wasswa Mukatuliki, who has reportedly led the village for nearly four decades.

This impasse is unique in Gomba District, where elections have been successfully concluded in all other 284 villages. The ongoing delays have created significant anxiety among residents, particularly concerning transactions involving village property, as Mukatuliki reportedly still holds the village stamp.

Residents have directly appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, seeking assurance that the September 23 date will be final. However, frustration has boiled over, with some residents issuing explicit threats of violence, including bloodshed, and destruction of property should the election not proceed as scheduled.

These threats escalate beyond political discontent, with some residents vowing to engage in public displays and confront Mukatuliki and potentially damage EC property if their demands are not met. The EC has previously warned against any electoral violence, but the situation in Kanoni appears to be reaching a breaking point.

The residents are demanding an immediate resolution, whether through the promised election or by the EC declaring a winner based on existing evidence, to end the prolonged uncertainty that has gripped their community.

Source: Nile Post