The delay in the release of the LC 3 election results in Lyantonde has sparked off angry protests from the voters, sparking off heavy police deployment.
Isaac Arinaitwe, the Lyantonde returning officer, says the declaration of the final results has been delayed by the delayed delivery of results from three of the six sub counties to the tally center.
The returning officer explains that he has received reports from the presiding officers that the results from Mpumudde, Kaliiro, and Kasagama Sub Counties could not be delivered yesterday, due to lack of transport.
He says that with just two vehicles from the electoral commission, the district was forced to hire Boda Boda cyclists to deliver the voting materials on Election Day. He however says that the commission deemed it risky to hire boda boda cyclists to transport the results back to the tally centers.
The returning officer's announcement that he will not declare the final results has sparked off a lot of tension and anxiety especially from the candidates who stood for the various elective posts.
Some candidates are accusing the electoral commission of incompetence and planning to rig the elections.
Supporters of Eriah Ssewangigi, the incumbent Lyantonde town Council LC3 Chairperson, have been blocked from accessing the tally center.
Eriah Ssewandigi says military police blocked his supporters from spending a night at the tally center, to guard against possible vote rigging. Ssewangidi says the decision to stop his supporters from guarding the votes could have an impact on the poll outcome.
Ssewandigi however claims that he has already beaten his rivals according to provisional results from all the polling stations in Lyantonde. He says he will be surprised if he is not declared the winner.
Mugyenyi Ssemanda, the Lyantonde IPC Chairperson, on the other hand claims that the delays in declaring the final results could be a ploy by the electoral commission could be a ploy to rob the genuine winners of their victory.
A joint force of anti-riot and military police has been deployed at the tally center to control a possible outbreak of violence.
