The police in Luweero have arrested the former LC 1 chairperson of Kasaala village for allegedly refusing to hand over the official village stamp after losing the recent LC1 elections.
Oliver Nakabi, who contested on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket in the July 28 LC I chairperson elections, came third with 87 votes. William Kayanja, an independent candidate, won the election with 229 votes, followed by Denis Lubwama of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who polled 161 votes.
Following the elections, Luweero district chief administrative officer (CAO) directed all outgoing LC1 chairpersons to hand over the official village stamps to sub-county chiefs, who would in turn give them to the newly elected chairpersons.
The swearing-in of newly elected LC1 chairpersons in Luweero was completed on August 28, except in villages where complaints had been lodged with the Electoral Commission.
Nakabi, however, allegedly refused to surrender the Kasaala village stamp despite a reminder and an ultimatum issued by Luweero sub-county on September 3.
Savannah regional police spokesperson Sam Twineamazima said Nakabi and John Ovon, the LC1 chairperson of Ndagabweya village, were reported to police for alleged illegal possession of government stores, referring to the official village stamps.
Twineamazima said Nakabi was summoned to police to assist with investigations but declined to appear, prompting officers to arrest her and recover the stamp.
He said Nakabi faces a charge of illegal possession of government stores. Nakabi reportedly maintained that she had been cheated in the election and could not accept the official stamp being handed over to a person she believed had not been duly elected.
Police subsequently arrested Nakabi from her home and detained her at Kasana Police Station, where she remains in custody as detectives process her file for further action.
Nakabi has contested the election results and petitioned the Electoral Commission, citing alleged electoral malpractices. The Electoral Commission is yet to resolve petitions filed by Nakabi and other candidates from 27 villages in Luweero district.
The commission has consequently halted the swearing-in of elected LC1 chairpersons in the affected villages until the complaints are disposed of.