By Aggrey Twesigye
Police on Friday fired teargas to disperse angry residents of Kiiho and Rwansinga cells in Mbarara District after they marched to the Resident District Commissioner’s office demanding an explanation over the cancellation of their Local Council I (LC I) elections.
The residents said the Electoral Commission had announced that all villages where voting failed on July 28, 2026 would hold fresh elections on August 1, but were shocked to find that Kiiho and Rwansinga were missing from the list of areas scheduled for repeat polls. They insisted they were staging a peaceful protest to seek answers.
The demonstrators were intercepted by police led by the District Police Commander, SP Benon Byamukama, who ordered officers to disperse the crowd using teargas. Two residents were arrested during the operation.
Niwagaba Eliazari, the incumbent chairperson of Rwansinga Cell, said residents had formally notified the RDC about the aborted elections but had received no response. He warned that they would challenge the matter in court if no action was taken.
Abdul Bwengye, one of the LC I candidates in Kiiho Cell, said residents had earlier petitioned the District Election Administrator, William Twinamatsiko, but their concerns had not been addressed.
Speaking by telephone after the incident, Mbarara District RDC Nicholas Nuwagiira, who was away from his office, advised the affected residents to seek legal redress through the courts.
