VOTING TURMOIL IN BUSIA AS KENYANS CROSS BORDER TO CAST BALLOTS

Several village-level NRM elections in Uganda’s Busia District were cancelled or delayed after hundreds of Kenyan nationals allegedly crossed the border to vote. Chaos erupted in villages such as Alupe, Amagoro, Abochet, and Okame in Buteba Sub-county, prompting officials to suspend voting.

Eastern Division also saw disruptions in Marachi D, Sofia A, and Sofia B, with allegations of candidates importing voters. Some areas resorted to open line-up voting after disagreements over the use of the official voter register.

Elsewhere, polls were postponed due to missing names, violence, and disputes over voter eligibility. In one case, an LC1 winner in Kateke village was assaulted by his son, who lost to him.

Authorities have arrested two people in connection with the violence, while the NRM has blamed the chaos on non-registered voters.