One person was shot and several others were wounded in election-related ethnic clashes in the new district of Bulambuli.
The clashes occurred this morning in Bulegeni sub-county when a group of Bagisu attempted to prevent their Bakama neighbors from voting in the Local Council Five elections.
Samuel Ejii, the Bulegeni sub-county chief, says when the Bakama were refused access to the polling stations, they attacked the Bagisu with bows, arrows and stones. The Bagisu responded in kind.
Ejii says that in the ensuing violence a Mugisu man was hit with gunfire. He died shortly there after.
It isn't known who fired the shot because guns hadn't been seen in the mob.
Ejii says that two days before the elections community leaders in Bulegeni met the Resident District Commissioner of Bulambuli and asked for a postponement of the election. He says the RDC Nabende Wamoto promised to forward their request to the Electoral Commission.
Ejii explains that because of this promise, the Bagisu residents of Bulegeni were surprised to see polls open today.
The large group of Bagisu announced a boycott of the elections, lit a large bonfire, stripped naked and danced in the hot daylight. They said they were mourning the death of democracy.
The Eastern Regional Police Commander, Philip Achaye, rushed to the scene with anti-riot police to stop the demonstration.
Badru Kiggundu, the Electoral Commission chairperson who was in Sironko district to oversee voting there, rushed to Bulambuli. He suspended voting in Bulegeni and is holding a meeting with representatives from both groups in order to resolve the conflict.
The Bakama are descendants of the Banyala who live along the Lake Kyoga area.
It is estimated that there are about 150,000 Bakama who live in Sironko, Bulambuli and Kapchorwa.
