FDC asks Police to release Kasese EC official

Forum for Democratic Change party has asked Police to release the Kasese district Electoral Commission registrar, Valey Kanzira.


Wafula says Kanzira did not commit any crime to warrant an arrest.

Wafula Oguttu said Kanzira had not committed any crime but was arrested last weekend by police over purported election-related offences.

He told a press briefing at the party headquarters at Najjanakumbi in Kampala on Monday that FDC did not bribe anyone to win the Kasese woman MP by-election after which the party’s Winnie Kiiza won last week.

Kiiza beat the NRM candidate Reheema Muhindo by close to a double margin.

“We ask Government to release the electoral commission registrar. He has no case. We won because our candidate was popular and the electorate is tired of NRM,” Oguttu said.

When asked to comment on Kanzira’s arrest, the police spokesperson, Simon Kuteesa said the suspect had allegedly committed several offences but he [Kuteesa] could not name them.

However it is suspected Kanzira tampered with the voters’ register and the tallying of votes cast during the hotly contest by-election.

Wafula asked the Electoral Commission to formally complain.

“FDC is not capable of rigging votes because that is like saying that a rat can chase a cat” he brought the journalists and party officials present into laughter.

He said that the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Nandala Mafabi is expected to take leave [step aside] from his position during the time he will be campaigning for the FDC’s Presidency.

And that will be a period of three months, Wafula revealed. The reported stepping aside of Mafabi is intended to stop him and those contesting from using resources of their offices.

Wafula also said Nandala’s opponents to the party’s helm, Maj. Mugisha Muntu and Geoffrey Ekanya are also required to ‘take leave’ as by a condition set by the FDC party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Muntu is the secretary for mobilization of FDC while Ekanya is the shadow minister for finance.

The three were nominated and cleared last week by the party’s electoral commission to contest for the FDC party presidency to replace three-time presidential contender, Dr. Kizza Besigye.

Wafula expressed concern over increased fire outbreaks which he says Government should stop. His complaint is that reports on fires such as that of Kasubi tombs have not been published.