Norbert Mao Accused of Rigging DP Election Through Mysterious ‘Ballot Box 12’
A storm of controversy has hit the Democratic Party (DP) following allegations of widespread electoral fraud during the recent party presidential elections in Mbarara, where Norbert Mao was declared the winner.
Rival candidate Alitia Elia claims that the process was marred by blatant manipulation, including the emergence of an unaccounted-for ballot box labeled “Box 12” after voting had officially closed.
According to Alitia, the original votes were cast using Ballot Box 19, with polls closing at 6:00 a.m. However, during a sudden shift from the public tallying tent to a private hotel room, Box 12 reportedly appeared, containing over 500 ballots—nearly all pre-marked in favor of Mao. Only a few unticked ballots were found, suggesting a coordinated effort to inflate Mao’s vote count.
Security personnel present, who had worked for over 72 hours, pushed for the tally to resume. Alitia alleges that the Electoral Commission (EC) discarded hundreds of valid votes for him and replaced them with those in Box 12, swinging the race decisively in Mao’s favor.
Describing the EC chair as visibly overwhelmed during the count, Alitia added that the electoral process was further compromised by reports of underage voting, double ballot issuance, and participation by non-delegates, including university students and drama performers.
He also accused the EC of disqualifying 109 candidates without allowing appeals and declaring 31 others elected unopposed, without counting votes.
Despite the chaos, Alitia praised the conduct of police and army personnel, who refused to evict candidates despite pressure. “They are our remaining hope for safety in Uganda,” he said.
Mao has dismissed the allegations and issued a stern warning to his opponents: “DP is not a playground—it’s a battleground.”
The scandal has left Uganda’s oldest political party in crisis. With accusations of rigging, voter fraud, and EC misconduct dominating headlines, political analysts warn that DP’s reputation as a pillar of democratic values is under serious threat ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Whether the party can recover its legitimacy and unify its base remains to be seen, but the fallout from “Ballot Box 12” is already reshaping Uganda’s political landscape.https://kampalaexpress.com/mao-faces-rigging-claims-as-ballot-box-12-sparks-dp-election-scandal/
