Police in Mubende District have arrested a parish presiding officer and a police constable following alleged election fraud during local government elections on February 4, 2026, in Bubanda Parish, Kigando Sub-county.
The suspects, identified as Robert Kassaija, a police constable, and Moses Mutabaazi, the Bubanda Parish Presiding Officer, were apprehended after irregularities were discovered at the Kigando sub-county tally centre. Authorities found unsealed ballot boxes and conflicting declaration forms, prompting the cancellation of the local election results.
Wamala Region Police spokesperson Lameck Kigozi said, “Police arrested the two individuals following the presentation of unsealed ballot boxes and inconsistencies on declaration forms, which disrupted the work of the sub-county presiding officer.”
The irregularities came to light when two candidates from Bubanda Parish submitted separate declaration forms to the Returning Officer, raising suspicions of tampering. Acting on these concerns, the Returning Officer directed police to make the arrests. Both suspects were taken to Mubende Central Police Station.
Kigozi condemned the conduct, noting it undermined electoral integrity and denied voters their rightful choice. The suspects face charges including alteration of results, failure to protect polling materials, and neglect of duty. The case file will be forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for further guidance.
As a result, the election results from Bubanda Parish were canceled, and new election dates for Kigando Sub-county have not yet been announced.
