Ex-Luweero LC I chairperson refuses to surrender official stamp, arrested

What the report says

Police in Luweero district have arrested former Kasaala village LC1 chairperson Oliver Nakabi after she allegedly refused to surrender the official village stamp following her defeat in the recent local council elections, according to The Observer. Nakabi had stood on the National Resistance Movement ticket in the July 28 vote and finished third with 87 votes, behind independent winner William Kayanja, who received 229 votes, and National Unity Platform candidate Denis Lubwama, who got 161 votes.

The report says Luweero’s chief administrative officer had instructed outgoing LC1 leaders to hand over village stamps to sub-county chiefs, who would pass them to newly elected chairpersons. That process was completed across most of the district by August 28, though some villages remained pending because of election complaints. Nakabi allegedly ignored a September 3 ultimatum from the sub-county to release the stamp for Kasaala.

Savannah regional police spokesperson Sam Twineamazima said Nakabi and another LC1 chairperson were reported for alleged illegal possession of government stores, a reference to the stamps. Police later detained Nakabi at Kasana Police Station after she reportedly failed to appear for questioning, and the stamp was recovered. She is said to have argued that the election had been unfair and has petitioned the Electoral Commission over alleged irregularities.

The case comes as the commission is still reviewing petitions from multiple villages in Luweero, and swearing-in for affected LC1 leaders has been put on hold until those disputes are resolved.