NDORWA EAST – Dr. James Akampumuza Rutanga, a candidate in the Ndorwa East Constituency elections, has publicly rejected the declared results — asserting that widespread rigging and electoral malpractice rendered the exercise a “sham” that does not reflect the will of the people.
This announcement comes as officials stated that the elections had been vindicated.
Related posts
Dr. Akampumuza expressed gratitude to his constituents for their support and votes —but immediately outlined what he described as “abundantly clear” evidence of irregularities.
He claimed voter bribery occurred during the night and morning before voting and at polling stations, and that campaign agents were abducted, hijacked, beaten, and molested.
Further allegations include the manipulation, alteration, and falsification of Ballot Declaration of Results (DR) Forms, voter intimidation, and the alleged substitution of official DR Forms with handwritten ordinary pieces of paper.
Dr. Akampumuza also cited a particularly troubling incident involving what he described as an “intention of wanting to burn vehicles and our supporters within the electoral areas,”— contributing to his view that the election was fundamentally flawed.
“Much of your vote for me was rigged,” Dr. Akampumuza said in a public statement on Friday.
Dr. Akampumuza insisted “journey for our Political roadmap to liberate Ndorwa East Constituency has just started.”
He reiterated his rejection of the “sham election results” and asserted that “the people’s will must be respected and the genuine Candidate announced!”
Dr. Akampumuza called for continued unity among his supporters, urging them to “keep united as we steer the journey for restoring Democracy in Ndorwa East County Constituency!”
These allegations surface against a backdrop of recent concerns regarding electoral integrity in in the NRM primaries.
President Yoweri Museveni recently strongly condemned irregularities reported during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries held on July 17, 2025— warning of tough action against perpetrators.
In a detailed post-election message to NRM members, President Museveni expressed concern over what he described as “unpatriotic actors” who allegedly tampered with the party’s democratic process.
He specifically cited result manipulation, register tampering, voter bribery, and violence as issues.
President Museveni stated that “These are politically and ideologically wrong and must be condemned by all lovers of the NRM and Uganda.”
Among the most troubling issues identified by President Museveni were the altering of election results despite the transparency of lining up behind candidates, tampering with registers, the use of violence resulting in injuries and loss of life in some areas, and the use of money and materials to bribe voters.
President Museveni ordered the prosecution of individuals involved in these electoral malpractices, particularly those who tampered with results.
He warned that the transparent lining-up process made result alteration obvious and traceable.
“It is not only the registrar that knows the results village by village. If you altered the results, we are coming for you,” he warned.
The president also indicated that those behind violence would be pursued and called for an examination into the involvement of soldiers and police officers in any incidents.
He also urged scrutiny of voter registers, noting that despite earlier verification, some irregularities were still discovered after voting.
Beyond the primaries, Museveni emphasized that the fundamental goal of electing leaders is to solve the people’s problems, a process he termed kukyenuura.
He highlighted government achievements in public health, economic liberalization, refugee reconciliation, and wealth creation initiatives like the Parish Development Model.
Museveni stressed that only leaders and parties capable of implementing government programs effectively deserve support.
“The purpose of electing leaders is to rationally choose those who can solve the solvable problems of the Wanainchi,” he said.
