Division candidate stabbed in Ugandan local election violence

A Kampala division candidate was stabbed in the elementary administration elections Friday in the East African nation of Uganda, local media reported Saturday.

Charles Serunjogi, chairman of Kampala Central Division running against former professional boxer Godfrey Nyakana, was stabbed in a scuffle in Kololo, east of the capital city according to New Vision 's report.

Serunjogi was stabbed in the abdomen in the afternoon at a polling station in the upscale Kololo district and remained in critical condition before he went into a surgery.

The scuffle erupted after he allegedly intercepted three minibuses ferrying suspected illegal voters.

Serunjogi had polled 1,049 votes against Nyakana's 664 votes in eight polling centers. The elections in city divisions were held simultaneously with those of division chairpersons and councilors countrywide.

Kampala Central MP-elect Erias Lukwago also complained of having been assaulted and punched by Nyakana's supporters after he reportedly intervened in an incident in Kisenyi.

Low turnout was seen in the local elections as of Parliamentary and Presidential Elections on February 23, in which President Yoweri Museveni defeated other four candidates and secured a third five-year term.

Floppy organization also delayed the local elections other than violence on Friday. Some polling stations had wrong symbols for candidates on the ballot papers and some ballot papers were delivered to wrong centers.

There were celebrations in Kampala as results of the city division chairperson polls trickled in, showing incumbents in the lead.

Source: Xinhua