Tensions have escalated in the Kalule Zone of Kawempe North following a disputed Local Council One (LC1) election. Residents are refusing to recognise Musasa Gyabeli as the area’s chairperson-elect, insisting instead that Kyeswa Samson secured the victory. According to the Nile Post, the community is demanding that the Electoral Commission provide a detailed explanation of how Gyabeli was declared the winner despite their claims that the ballot results favoured Samson. The residents argue that the official announcement contradicted the will of the voters and have warned they will not accept Gyabeli as their leader.
The dispute highlights broader concerns regarding the handling of electoral irregularities in the region. Residents pointed out that while Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama had previously identified several areas with reported irregularities, Kalule Zone was not among them. They argue that their specific complaints deserve the same level of scrutiny and attention. One resident told the Nile Post that the declaration was fundamentally illegitimate, stating, "We don’t want him, and he will not govern us." The community is now calling on the Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the declaration and confirm whether their grievances were formally considered.
Local political leadership has engaged with the aggrieved residents to address their concerns. Kawempe North Member of Parliament Luyimbazi Elias Nalukoola visited the area to listen to the community’s grievances. While he assured residents that he would continue to work on issues affecting the constituency, he explicitly distanced himself from pursuing legal remedies for the election dispute. Nalukoola told the Nile Post that the voting process was transparent and witnessed by the public. "The people of Kawempe North know whom they voted for," he said, noting that the election was conducted in broad daylight.
Instead of taking the matter to court, Nalukoola urged the Electoral Commission to intervene directly. He called on Chairperson Byabakama to address the complaints and clarify the disputed outcome. The MP emphasized that the residents’ insistence on Samson’s victory was based on their direct observation of the voting process. The immediate focus now shifts to whether the Electoral Commission will issue a formal response to the Kalule Zone residents and take steps to resolve the disagreement over the declared results. The community maintains that their preferred candidate’s victory must be recognised and the process explained.