By Mirembe Martina

Butaleja district has seen heavy police deployment ahead of the by elections which are supposed to take place today.

The elections were expected to begin at 8:00am in the district as they vote for the next Woman MP after the death of Cerinah Nebanda. There are five candidates vying for the seat. Of these are Betty Hamba (Independent), Felista Namwihiri (FDC) and Perusi Munaba (Independent), Florence Nebanda Andiru (NRM) and Sarah Annet Logose (Independent).

The district has over 87,000 voters who are all expected to be involved in the voting process which is expected to last till 5pm. The district has 151 polling stations and four polling officials.

Two agents for each candidate vying for the seat have been allowed to monitor the voting process to reduce on the likelihood of election malpractice of any type. However, five observers for each candidate have been allowed in each sub-county in the district to observe the voting process.

The Butalaja Woman MP seat fell vacant after the death of Cerinah Nebanda who passed away last year in December.

Some candidates are complaining about the heavy police deployment saying it was scaring away supporters. The two complainants, Namwihiriri and Logose during a press conference complained. “They have continuously ripped off my posters and replaced them with the ones of the NRM candidate. They assaulted me and I lost my money but despite reporting, police has not been helpful,” Logose said.