Mukono North Member of Parliament, Abdallah Kiwanuka Mulimamayuuni, has alleged that some individuals illegally registered students as village voters in an attempt to influence the forthcoming Local Council (LCi) elections.
The legislator raised the allegations during a meeting with the Bishop of Mukono Diocese, Rt. Rev. Enos Kitto Kagodo, at the bishop’s palace in Mukono Town.
The meeting brought together Members of Parliament from the Greater Mukono, who had paid a courtesy visit to reaffirm their support for the construction of St. Philip and Andrew’s Cathedral.
Mulimamayuuni said his office had received reports indicating that students enrolled in various educational institutions were being added to village voters’ registers despite residing in the communities only temporarily for their studies.
He argued that LCI elections are intended to be conducted by permanent residents of a village and warned that the inclusion of temporary residents could compromise the integrity and credibility of the electoral process.
According to the legislator, one of the institutions mentioned in the allegations is the Mukono Diocese School of Nursing and Midwifery (MUDISONAMS).
He appealed to Bishop Kagodo to investigate the matter and intervene before it triggers tensions within the affected communities.
“I have received information that there are groups preparing to confront any student who attempts to vote in their village elections. I am told they have already sharpened canes to stop them, but we should not wait for such a situation to unfold. Bishop, you are in a position to address this,” Mulimamayuuni said.
He cautioned against any attempts to manipulate village registers for political gain, saying such actions could fuel unnecessary conflict during the LC elections.
Responding to the concerns, Bishop Kagodo said he was not aware of any efforts to register students from the diocesan nursing school as village voters, noting that the institution is currently on holiday.
“That is what I know, but I will make inquiries into the allegations. However, we should not forget that, as a large institution, it also has members of staff who permanently reside there. We cannot dictate how eligible residents exercise their civic rights,” the bishop said.
Kagodo pledged to establish the facts surrounding the allegations while urging all stakeholders to handle the matter peacefully and within the law.
The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament from Mukono, Buikwe, Kayunga and Buvuma districts. Besides discussing community concerns, the legislators reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the construction of St. Philip and Andrew’s Cathedral, one of the major development projects being undertaken by Mukono Diocese.
The allegations come as preparations for the LC elections intensify across the country, with political leaders and residents paying close attention to the compilation and verification of village voters’ registers amid calls for transparency and adherence to electoral laws.
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