MUBENDE, Uganda — Police in Mubende District have arrested a parish presiding officer and a police constable following alleged election fraud during the local government elections held on February 4, 2026, in Bubanda Parish, Kigando Sub-county.
The arrested individuals are Robert Kassaija, a police constable, and Moses Mutabaazi, the Bubanda Parish Presiding Officer. The arrests came after unsealed ballot boxes and conflicting declaration forms were discovered at the sub-county tally centre, forcing the cancellation of the election results.
According to Lameck Kigozi, spokesperson for the Wamala Region Police, irregularities were noticed when two candidates presented different declaration forms to the Returning Officer, raising suspicions of tampering.
“Yesterday at around 7:30pm at Kigando Sub-county tally centre, police arrested two individuals in connection with election fraud following the presentation of unsealed ballot boxes and inconsistencies on declaration forms,” Kigozi said.
The suspects were taken to Mubende Central Police Station and will face charges including alteration of results, failure to protect polling materials, and neglect of duty. The case file will be submitted to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for further guidance.
Kigozi condemned the suspects’ actions, stating that their conduct undermined the integrity of the electoral process and denied voters the opportunity to choose their leaders.
As a result, the Bubanda Parish election results were cancelled, and new election dates for Kigando Sub-county are yet to be announced.
