ENTEBBE – One person was shot dead and several others injured on Tuesday as several candidates and their supporters protested over the outcome of the results from the elections for division mayors and councillors in Entebbe Municipality and Wakiso District.
A combined force of police and military fired live bullets and teargas as National Resistance Movement (NRM) and Democratic Party (DP) candidates and their supporters started protesting, saying they had been robbed of their victory.
This occurred on Tuesday morning at the tally centre in Entebbe after the returning officers declared Independent candidate Fabrice Rulinda as the winner of the Entebbe Municipality mayoral seat.
Entebbe Municipality had six mayoral candidates: Vincent Kayanja Depaul (DP), Ms Olive Nassuna (NUP), Mr Mohammed Kawuma (independent), Mr Fabrice Rulinda (independent), Mr Michael Mutebi (NRM) and Kenneth Ssimbwa (ANT).
However, the losers claimed that it was impossible for Rulinda to win the election since he had trailed others for most of the time until the wee hours of Tuesday morning.
According to the declared results, Rulinda got 6,703 votes, followed by Mr Mutebi who polled 6, 342 votes. DP’s Kayanja came third with 5,576 votes while NUP’s Nassuna got 2,499 votes. ANT’s Ssimbwa had 45 votes.
Upon declaration, the losing candidates and their supporters started protesting, prompting the military and police officers to start firing tear gas and live bullets.
In the ensuing melee, Eric Kyeyune, who is a boda boda rider, shot dead while several others were injured in the shooting and rushed to hospital.
Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the incident.
“It is alleged that the incident happened at Entebbe Central Market where the deceased is believed to have been part of the riotous group who were protesting the declaration by the Wakiso returning officer of Mayoral aspirant, an independent candidate in the race for Entebbe Municipality, a one Fabrice Rulinda as the winner of the Monday Mayoral elections. This was to the dismay of the electorates who were sure the NRM flag bearer, a one Michael Mutebi had sailed through as per the provisional results at the divisional electoral offices,” Mr Owoyesgyire said.
“Body already rushed to city mortuary pending postmortem. Crime scene yet to be visited, inquiries at hand,” he added.
