By Ben Musanje
The Resident City Commissioner (RCC) of Masaka City, Ahmed Washaki, has accused lawyers representing the National Unity Platform (NUP) of attempting to block the Chief Magistrate’s decision in the recent Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament election recount, suggesting that the challenge stems from hostility toward the NRM rather than factual issues.
The controversy follows a three-day vote recount session presided over by Masaka Chief Magistrate Albert Asiimwe, which concluded on Sunday night and overturned the initial results declared by the Electoral Commission (EC).
The EC had originally declared NUP candidate Rose Nalubowa the winner of the January 15 elections. However, after re-examining all ballot papers from 313 polling stations, the court declared NRM’s Justine Nameere the duly elected MP.
The Chief Magistrate observed that Nameere’s vote total had increased from 20,324 in the original tally to 25,502 after the recount, while Nalubowa’s votes had decreased from 25,443 to 23,176. Other candidates, including Juliet Kakande Nakabuye of the Democratic Front (DF) and independent candidate Sauyah Nanyonga, also saw adjustments in their totals. The magistrate noted that numerical errors discovered during the recount had substantially affected the election outcome.
Washaki, who witnessed the tallying process as a registered voter at Kassijjagirwa polling station, raised concerns about 11 polling stations representing 5,000 voters whose results had been omitted in the initial count. He questioned why Nalubowa did not challenge these omissions, leaving only Nameere to file a formal complaint.
In short viral video, the RCC is seen saying that the Chief Magistrate had clarified that it was wrong for the EC to omit results from 11 polling stations without explanation, which had denied 5,000 voters their right to have their votes counted.
Washaki explained that the situation in Masaka City was different from Kalungu and Bukomansimbi, where multiple ballot boxes had been visibly tampered with. In Masaka, only one out of 314 ballot boxes had a broken seal, while the rest remained intact.
According to the magistrate, Nameere’s written notice to the EC about the uncounted polling stations, together with requests to correct false field declaration forms, established a prima facie case for a recount. The court determined that the single broken seal on one ballot box could not have materially affected the outcome of the election.
Washaki urged critics not to judge the Chief Magistrate’s decision based on political feelings, emphasizing that the recount had restored fairness to an election initially marred by numerical errors.
The Masaka City Woman MP seat controversy is likely to remain a flashpoint in the region as legal challenges continue, with NUP supporters indicating their intent to contest the court’s ruling. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
