The candidates in the Butaleja women parliamentary by-elections have complained about the heavy deployment of police, Ugandan Peoples Defence Forces and military police in the district during Monday’s voting.

Felistus Namwihiriri of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) says that the police and other security agencies have beaten their supporters and arrested dozens of others.

Addressing a press conference at Butaleja town council, Sarah Annet Logose an independent candidate in the race said that the heavy police deployment also scared her voters and supporters.

“The police and some UPDF soldiers confiscated our vehicles and arrested my agents,” Lugose says. FDC’s  Namwihiriri also says that it was wrong for police and other security agencies to deploy heavily in the district.

The Butaleja District Criminal Investigations Chief, Vincent Otyeng confirms the deployment and explains that it was normal. The seat went vacant after the death of Butaleja district woman member of Parliament, Cerinah Nebanda.

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