BUDUDA — What began as a disagreement over a voters’ register during Local Council One (LC1) elections in Bududa District ended in tragedy after a 58-year-old resident died from injuries sustained while attempting to stop a violent confrontation.
Michael Shiisa, a resident of Buwuma Cell in Khama Ward, Nangako Town Council, succumbed to injuries at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital after he was allegedly assaulted during chaos that disrupted polling in Khama Cell on Tuesday.
According to accounts from election officials and eyewitnesses, tensions had been building even before voting started as residents challenged the credibility of the voters’ register. Several voters questioned why the register had grown from 81 to 110 names, alleging that ineligible voters had been added ahead of the election.
The concerns deepened after presiding officer Perez Namukowa reportedly observed that the register contained entries written in three different handwriting styles, prompting calls for further verification before polling could proceed.
Bududa Resident District Commissioner Juliet Salome Namara confirmed that the disagreement over the register triggered a heated exchange among residents and supporters of rival candidates. Nangako Town Council registrar Eric Fungo was called to address the complaints, but efforts to resolve the matter failed as tempers flared.
Witnesses said Shiisa stepped in as fighting broke out, attempting to separate those involved. Instead, he was allegedly attacked during the confrontation.
He was rushed to Bududa Hospital in critical condition before being referred to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead later that day.
Residents accused children of LC1 chairperson candidate Laurence Kakala of carrying out the assault, allegations that had not been officially confirmed by police by Thursday.
Security personnel later deployed to Kakala’s residence, but those alleged to have participated in the attack had reportedly fled. Police had not announced any arrests by the time of publication, although investigations into the death and the circumstances surrounding the election were ongoing.
The incident has cast a shadow over the LC1 elections in Bududa, with local leaders calling for a transparent investigation into both the fatal assault and the disputed voters’ register that sparked the violence.
The nationwide LC1 elections, held on July 28, were intended to strengthen grassroots leadership through the election of village councils. However, isolated incidents of violence, disputes over voter registers and allegations of electoral irregularities were reported in several districts, highlighting the challenges that continue to confront community-level elections.
For residents of Nangako Town Council, attention has now shifted from the election outcome to demands for accountability. Community leaders have appealed for calm, urging residents to allow investigators to establish the facts while ensuring that those responsible for Shiisa’s death are brought to justice.