Security in Jinja East constituency has been beefed up ahead of Thursday’s parliamentary by election.
Samson Lubega, South Eastern regional police spokesperson says police and other security operatives have been deployed and will keep peace throughout the by election period.
Lubega says although five cases of violence have been reported, it is a prerequisite for police to remain on surveillance to keep sanity in the by election.
Police patrol trucks can be seen on all roads in Masese, Walukuba, Kirinya and Rock Village, the most probable areas of election violence.
Five candidates are vying for the seat that fell vacant in December after court nullified the election of Nathan Igeme Nabeta due to lack of the required academic papers.
Cranmer Dhikusooka, an independent candidate says Jinja needs a blood bank in order to avoid deaths from lack of blood. He adds that party politics can never develop Jinja.
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Nathan Samson Igeme Nabeeta, an NRM candidate has promised jobs from his new Information Technology firm, Lake Victoria Information Communication Technology and bio-tech (LAVIT) located at Kirinya in Jinja. He says with more employment, Jinja people can fight poverty from their homes and educate their children.
Paul Mwiru, a Forum for Democratic Change party candidate has vowed to fight corruption in government institutions such as schools and hospitals. In what appears to be an attack on Nabeta, Mwiru urged voters not to become prisoners of hope as politicians deceive them with impossible ventures like LAVIT.
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Other candidates in the campaign are Alex Mufumbiro of the Democratic Party and Ritchie Oyo Osinde of the Uganda Peoples Congress.
Flavia Mujulizi, Jinja Returning Officer says the campaigns have been calm and hopes the Election Day does not turn violent.
