RUKIGA DISTRICT: The Muhanga Progressive Old Students Association (MPOSA) election dispute has intensified following allegations that supporters of Turyasingura Obed manipulated the voting process to disadvantage his rival, Ainem Bababazi Elias, while also questioning the role of the Electoral Commission led by Director Arinda Amos.
The controversy followed the announcement of the election results, which some members rejected, arguing that the process was characterised by irregularities that undermined fairness and transparency, particularly in the contest for the Information and Publicity position.
The race attracted two candidates, Ainem Bababazi Elias and Turyasingura Obed, whose supporters campaigned for members to entrust them with the responsibility of managing communication and publicity within the association.
However, the election became contentious after allegations emerged that some supporters of Obed had engaged in activities that could have compromised the voting process and disadvantaged Elias. Concerned members questioned whether the Electoral Commission had adequately investigated the reported irregularities before announcing the results.
One of the most serious allegations involved a member who reportedly received three different voter keys and allegedly used them to cast votes three times. Members questioned how one individual could obtain multiple voting credentials in an election that was expected to follow the principle of one person, one vote.
The alleged incident raised concerns about possible manipulation of the electronic voting system and whether supporters of particular candidates could have taken advantage of weaknesses in the voting arrangements to influence the outcome.
Questions also emerged about whether the Electoral Commission leadership, under Arinda Amos, received accurate information about the voting process or was potentially misled by individuals involved in the election. Members called for an explanation of how the Commission handled the reported irregularities before declaring the results.
The decision to discourage voters from sharing screenshots after voting also attracted criticism. Concerned members argued that restricting proof of voting made independent verification difficult and created doubts about the transparency of the exercise.
Another contentious issue was the reported voter turnout. Out of 411 registered members, only 144 reportedly participated, leaving 267 members who did not vote. The concerned members questioned whether the turnout met the constitutional requirements for a valid election and whether the announced figures could be independently verified.
They further demanded access to the electoral transparency log to establish how the 144 votes were counted and verified. They also questioned what happened to voter keys belonging to members who did not participate, raising concerns about possible unauthorised use.
The association’s constitutional provisions on quorum became another major point of contention, with members demanding that Arinda Amos and the Electoral Commission explain the minimum number of participants required to validate the election.
The concerned members called for the release of the transparency log, clarification of the constitutional quorum requirements, an explanation of the alleged three-key voting incident and permission for members to provide proof of voting in the event of a fresh election.
The allegations have placed the conduct of Obed’s supporters and the handling of the election by the Electoral Commission under scrutiny, with members insisting that neither the candidates nor the association should be denied a fair and transparent process.
Although the allegations have not yet been independently established, the dissatisfied members maintained that the election controversy could only be resolved through accountability, disclosure of voting records and a satisfactory explanation from the electoral team.
They argued that MPOSA belongs to all its 411 registered members and that its leadership should emerge from a process in which every eligible member’s vote is protected and respected.
