Uganda Post-election Violence Claims Eight Lives

By Halima Athumani

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Eight people were hacked to death in post-election violence in western Uganda's Bundibugyo district early Saturday morning, police said.

Six out of the eight killed were children below the age of 14, police spokeswoman Lydia Tumushabe said.

A local journalist in the district, however, disputed the official death toll and said he counted 12 bodies with deep cuts at the Bundibugyo hospital mortuary.

"We have deployed [security forces] heavily and asked everyone to stay calm but the situation is still very tense," she said.

Tumushabe said 12 people had been arrested in connection with the attacks. The suspects were found with machetes, bows and arrows, spears, sticks and knives used in the attacks, she added.

Trouble ensued after Wednesday's local council elections when the district electoral commission registrar announced Jolly Tibamanya, an independent candidate, as the winner.

The violence escalated further when the registrar on Friday announced Ronald Mutegeki, the ruling National Resistance movement flag bearer, as the winner after supposedly realizing that the votes did not tally.

Natukunda Deo, regional electoral commission registrar, told Anadolu Agency: "Our officer announced the results but had not declared the winner; when he realized he had made a mistake, he rectified it and declared the right winner."

"Had we declared the wrong winner it would have been a court case, it's unfortunate that the announcement resulted into deaths," Deo added.

Bundibugyo made headlines in July 2014 when two police stations were attacked leading to the death of over 50 civilians in cold blood.

Uganda has been tense since the Feb. 18 general elections that saw President Yoweri Museveni – who has been in power for three decades -- beat seven other candidates to the presidential seat.