The Busia NRM elections descended into confusion as hundreds of Kenyan nationals crossed into Uganda to cast votes in the ruling party’s local polls. This led to widespread violence, election cancellations, and delayed processes in several villages.
Cross-Border Interference Sparks Chaos
Busia District shares a porous border with Kenya. Communities such as the Samia and Iteso reside on both sides and maintain deep familial ties. Consequently, verifying who qualifies to vote proved extremely difficult in some villages.
The most affected areas were Marachi D, Sofia A, and Sofia B in the Eastern Division. Meanwhile, in Buteba Sub-county, Alupe, Amagoro, Abochet, and Okame also experienced turmoil. Electoral officials stopped voting in those four villages due to an overwhelming influx of non-Ugandan voters.
Officials Take Action to Maintain Order
NRM District Chairperson Eric Masiga emphasized that only individuals listed in the yellow books could vote. However, when foreign nationals refused to leave, tensions rose. Local authorities were forced to suspend the process. As a result, elections in the affected villages were postponed to the following day.
Elsewhere, polling resumed in Marachi D, Sofia A, and Sofia B. Although the situation remained tense, voting continued after a delay caused by claims that candidates imported non-resident voters to sway results.
Breakdown in Procedure and Resistance to Guidelines
Linet Lilian Acheng, the Eastern Division registrar, explained the difficulty in implementing the yellow book verification system. Candidates objected to the method. Therefore, officials permitted open lining-up, even though it contradicted the party’s official guidelines.
In other sub-counties—Dabani, Masinya, Lumino, Lunyo, and Busime—voting halted for various reasons. Some voters could not find their names in the register. In contrast, others protested the inclusion of people unfamiliar to their community.
For instance, in Nangwe Madibira, villagers rejected the voter list. According to resident David Tibita, names of legitimate locals were missing while outsiders were added without explanation.
Escalating Clashes and Police Intervention
Violent scenes unfolded in multiple areas. In Mugungu B, voters confronted each other over denied access. The police were called in to restore order. Patrick Lomony stated that he and others were unfairly turned away despite appearing in the yellow book.
Additionally, Talemwa Tigger accused Godfrey Benezer of manipulating the voting process by blocking supporters of Juma Charles from casting ballots.
More clashes erupted in Marachi D, Sofia A, and Arubaine. In Rukaka village, located in Busime Sub-county, the situation escalated until police fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.
Family Feud Turns Violent After Election
In Kateke A village, drama erupted when LC1 chairmanship winner Lawrence Ikemeri was assaulted by his own son. Reports from Police Commander Alice Kuka confirm that Stephen Okameri, angered by his father’s victory, broke his hand in a violent confrontation.
Following the incident, Stephen fled to Kampala. Police at Buteba Station are handling the case. Moreover, two additional suspects linked to election violence have been arrested.
NRM Leadership Responds to the Unrest
Rogers Mulindwa, NRM publicist for Bukedi region, defended the party’s overall process. He noted that most areas experienced smooth voting. However, he blamed the chaos on non-listed individuals forcing their way into polling centers. “Where voters followed the register, everything proceeded normally,” he said.
Implications for Border Communities and Governance
The Busia NRM elections exposed vulnerabilities in Uganda’s local election processes—especially in border areas. Ethnic ties and poor border enforcement enabled foreign interference, creating opportunities for political manipulation.
Looking forward, the NRM and Electoral Commission must enhance voter verification procedures and enforce border controls. Ensuring the integrity of future elections requires strong community engagement and transparency.
