The chairman of the National Resistance Movement [NRM] Electoral Commission Dr. Tanga Odoi, has announced the indefinite postponement of elections in Sembabule District.
The NRM is holding nationwide party primaries to choose candidates for district and other Parliamentary seats among others.
Sembabule has emerged as one of the areas with stiff competition where the enthusiasm of supporters for various candidates has in some cases resulted in fights in the party polls.
Sembabule has constituencies including Mawogola West where the incumbent Joseph Ssekabiito Kitayimbwa and the Sembabule district Woman MP Hanifa Bangirana Kawooya are facing off.
In another constituency, Theodore Ssekikubo is tussling it out with Ms. Joy Kabatsi in Lwemiyaga while in Mawogola North, Shartsi Musherure Kutesa is competing with Mr. Godfrey Aine Kaguta also known as Sodo.
According to the head of the polls for the NRM in the district Mr. Robert Ssesanga, the first election to be postponed was that in Mawogola North although he said a subsequent message ordering postponement of the polls in the entire district was sent by the national party Electoral Commission Dr. Tanga Odoi moments later.
On Thursday Dr. Tanga Odoi warned that he would not hesitate to postpone elections in any part of the country should there be a need to do so.
He also warned contestants in districts; Mityana, Kazo, Sheema, Tororo, Bushenyi, Rwampara, Isingiro, Hoima, Butaleja, Amudat and Kyenjojo among others to desist from a violent contest or they risk their elections to also be canceled.
Meanwhile, Odoi retracted his Tuesday statements that only those people who will be on the voter’s register will be allowed to vote. This follows guidance by President Museveni that all NRM members should be allowed to vote provided they are on the register.
He said even those that are not on the register but are verified as NRM members and are above the age of 18 they too should be allowed to vote after verification by NRM village leaders.
