Four Zombo EC officials arrested over alleged extortion
He emphasized that the district would not tolerate corruption by officials entrusted with delivering public services, warning that anyone found exploiting candidates would face disciplinary action.
Zombo: Four Electoral Commission officials in Zombo District have been arrested over allegations of extorting money from candidates seeking nomination for the recently concluded Women Councils and Committees elections.
The suspects, all Parish Election Officers from Athuma Sub-county, have been identified as Omirambe Milton of Zulume Parish, Denis Omirambe of Leda Parish, Kasamba Alyasius of Abaji Parish, and Cissy Afoyocan of Olyeku Parish.
According to Zombo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Festus Ayikobua, the officials allegedly demanded between Ugx 50,000 and Ugx 100,000 from women candidates to facilitate their nomination, despite the Electoral Commission’s directive that the exercise is free of charge.
Ayikobua said the alleged extortion discouraged many women from participating in the elections because they could not afford the money being demanded.
“I have picked four Electoral Commission officials from Athuma Sub County. They were extorting money for nomination from women council candidates,” Ayikobua said during a press conference in Paidha Town Council on Sunday.
The RDC said the suspects were later released but ordered the Zombo District Returning Officer to remove them from election duties with immediate effect.
“The four were later released and I ordered the Returning Officer of Zombo to immediately remove them from the service. We have so many people who are willing to work for the district,” Ayikobua added.
He emphasized that the district would not tolerate corruption by officials entrusted with delivering public services, warning that anyone found exploiting candidates would face disciplinary action.
The Zombo Electoral Commission had not issued an official statement on the incident by the time of publication.
The arrests come shortly after the Women Councils and Committees elections held last Thursday, as the district intensifies preparations for the LC I elections scheduled for Tuesday across 752 villages in Zombo District.
The Electoral Commission has repeatedly reminded the public that no nomination fees are charged for candidates contesting in the 2026 Village (LC I), Parish (LC II), and Women Councils and Committees elections.
Speaking during the launch of the electoral programme in June, Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi emphasized that nominations for the administrative unit and women council elections are completely free, urging candidates to report any official demanding money.
Authorities have encouraged members of the public to report cases of extortion and other electoral malpractice as preparations for the upcoming LC I polls continue.
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