By Spy Uganda
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi has alleged that authorities prevented him from travelling to Kalangala District on polling day for the Woman MP by-election, forcing him to abandon the trip after two ferries reportedly failed to complete the journey.
Ssenyonyi, who was heading to the island district to oversee the campaign team of National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Irene Nampala, said he was repeatedly blocked from crossing Lake Victoria despite spending hours attempting to reach Kalangala.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Opposition leader said he initially boarded a ferry at Bukakata Landing Site but remained stranded for nearly two hours as the vessel failed to depart.
“I’ve been seated on the ferry meant to go to Kalangala from Bukakata for close to two hours, but it has not set off. I’m told there’s been an instruction not to set off because there is no ‘clearance’ yet for me to proceed to Kalangala,” Ssenyonyi said.
According to him, officials later informed him that his travel to the island district had not been cleared, even as voting was underway to elect a new Woman Member of Parliament.
The Opposition leader also raised concerns about reports his team was receiving from the ground, alleging irregular activities at several polling stations.
“On the ground, we’ve been getting numerous reports of numberless cars moving to various polling stations, and reports of ballot stuffing,” he said.
After the first delay, Ssenyonyi said he boarded another ferry that eventually left Bukakata. However, he claimed the vessel was ordered to turn back while already en route across Lake Victoria.
“Mid-way through the journey on the lake, its operators got instructions to reverse and return to Bukakata Landing Site where we came from. Apparently, the ferries will not move to Kalangala for as long as I’m on board,” he alleged.
The developments reportedly left dozens of passengers stranded, with ferry operations disrupted for several hours.
Ssenyonyi said he ultimately chose to disembark in order to allow other travellers to continue their journeys and avoid further inconvenience.
“All other travelers have been stuck since morning, including those on board and the many others who have been waiting outside. I’ve now decided to disembark to stop the impasse, so that the ferries can transport the stranded travelers. Very sad state of affairs!” he said.
By press time, neither government officials nor ferry operators had publicly responded to Ssenyonyi’s claims.
The Kalangala District Woman MP by-election was called following the death of former Woman MP Hellen Nakimuli. The race has attracted candidates from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and opposition parties, including the National Unity Platform, making it one of the closely watched electoral contests in the district.
