Kasawo, Uganda — Joseph Mulwana has been declared the newly elected mayor of Kasawo Town Council after defeating incumbent mayor James Mulindwa in a closely watched and tense election marked by violence and allegations of voter fraud.
Mulwana garnered 1,798 votes, beating Mulindwa who polled 1,300 votes, while another contender, Kaddu, came third with over 700 votes, according to official results released by the Kasawo Town Council electoral authorities.
The declaration followed a dramatic incident at Kasawo–Mubanda polling station, where voting was temporarily disrupted after one of the candidates a one Kaddu was accused of attempting to rig the election by sneaking more than 80 pre-ticked ballot papers into a ballot box.
Tension escalated into a scuffle, prompting security personnel to intervene. In the process, security officers fired gunshots in the air to disperse the crowd and restore order.
Election officials later confirmed that the alleged pre-ticked ballots were detected using the Biometric Voter Verification Kit (BVVK), which helped identify irregular ballots and calm tensions at the polling station.
Speaking after his victory, Mulwana praised the people of Kasawo for maintaining calm and trusting the electoral process despite the challenges.
“I thank the people of Kasawo for believing in me and standing for peace and democracy. I also commend the electoral officials and the BVVK system, which helped protect the integrity of this election,” Mulwana said.
Mulwana, a youth leader and National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer, is well known in Kasawo for his decade-long community work, particularly in agriculture. Over the past 10 years, he has supported residents by distributing cocoa seedlings, an initiative credited with boosting household incomes and improving living standards in the area.
He has also been involved in youth and elderly empowerment programmes through job creation initiatives, which analysts say significantly contributed to his electoral success.
“This victory is not mine alone. It belongs to the youth, the elders, and every resident who wants change. I pledge to work tirelessly to improve Kasawo Town Council,” Mulwana said.
Kasawo Town Council, which hosts a population of over 70,000 people, continues to grapple with several challenges including unemployment, poor drainage systems, dilapidated roads, and poorly developed markets.
Mulwana pledged that his administration will prioritise infrastructure development, job creation, and better service delivery to address these longstanding problems.
Dindo of Kasawo: The Rocky Landmark Steeped in Myth and Tradition
