Bukimbiri By-election: Parish Priest Survives Lynching

Rev.Fr. Emmanuel Safari, the parish priest of Gatete Catholic Parish in Kabale Diocese on Thursday survived lynching over allegations of voter bribery in Bukimbiri county by-election.  

The incident happened at Kiriba village polling station in Nyundo sub-county.  Safari says that while he was heading to Birara Catholic Church in Nyundo from Kisoro town, he was followed by a group of people who were hurling insults and accusing him of supporting independent candidate Asgario Turyagyenda.

According to Safari, one of the people only identified as Igufa pelted his vehicle with stones.   Safari says that he however managed to flee to Kisoro Police Station where he has filed a case.

But, Moses Tushabe, one of the eyewitnesses says that Fr. Safari who was driving a Toyota Harrier registration number UBJ 226G while in the company Alkangiro Ahumbisibwe appeared at the polling station and started distributing money to voters in favor of Independent candidate Asgario Turyagyenda.   

Safari however strongly refutes the accusations that he was involved in voter bribery.

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Denis Namuwoza, in charge of operations in Bukimbiri County, says that the case has been registered at Kisoro Police Station and investigations are underway. Namuwoza also says that James Agaba, the district councilor representing the Central division in Kisoro municipality, and Christopher Karimunda were arrested from Kirundo traveling in a motor vehicle registration number UAX 236R for allegedly bribing voters in favor of Turyagyenda.

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But, Turygagyenda says that many of his polling agents are being harassed to give Kwizera a chance of rigging. He claims that at six polling stations in Nyanamo town council, all his polling agents were harassed and chased away by Kwizera’s agents.

He also protested the arrest of Agaba and his colleagues saying that they were distributing lunch to his agents at polling stations.

Other candidates in the race are; Edward Mutabazi, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party James Owebeyi Mugyemani and National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag bearer.

The by-election stems from the court of Appeal's decision to nullify the victory of Kwizera citing irregularities following a successful application by Owebeyi.