Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is preparing to petition court to compel the Electoral Commission to produce boxes of pre-ticked ballot papers that were intercepted during the just concluded Hoima Woman MP by- election.
According to FDC spokesman Ssemujju Nganda, many irregularities were cited before the EC announced that Resistance Movement’s Busingye Harriet Mugenyi had defeated Asanansi Nyakato of FDC by 4,512 votes to win the said seat last week.
Some of these irregularities, Ssemujju, who was addressing journalists during the press conference at the party’s headquarters in Najanankumbi said, included the presence of pre-ticked ballot papers at several polling stations.
He added that NRM’s trick was revealed when they intercepted some boxes at many polling stations while others were recovered from the military at Kibaire polling station in Bulindi Parish of Kyabigambire Sub County.
“There also other incidents that were not recorded where FDC agents and leaders were arrested and beaten. Honourable Michael Kabaziguluka confiscated three boxes of pre-ticked ballot papers in favour of NRM. While intercepting these ballots, Police was there and was planning to take them as an exhibit but army truck H4DF 1647 came and took them, therefore we demand to see these boxes,” he said adding that what happened in Hoima is what is exactly going to happen in the next general elections.
The claim of pre-ticked ballots was reechoed by the EC.
While appearing on NBS tv on Monday EC spokesman Jotham Taremwa, said that EC has pre-ticked ballots from the Hoima by-election however they are yet to analyse them.
“Some suspects are already in custody in Hoima. We’re going to treat these ballots as a sample test,” he said.
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