There is drama in Alupe Village in Mawero Parish in Buteba Sub County in Busia district where residents are stranded with two local council chairpersons.
The development comes after Philip Ekisa, an independent and Sam Sihaire, the incumbent chairperson and National Resistance Movement-NRM party candidate claim to have won the village polls and were declared by the Electoral Commission in the 2018 polls.
A copy of the results from the Busia Electoral Commission office however, shows that Philip Ekisa garnered 203 polls while Sam Sihaire collected 204 votes.
Now, residents are stuck with both chairpersons and don’t know the right person to report to in case they need services.
According to George Onyango, one of the elders in the village, the parallel leadership has caused confusion among residents in the area.
But, Sam Sihaire the incumbent chairperson says he was given the declaration form by the Returning Officer confirming that he garnered 204 votes and wonders how his opponent got the declaration form and village stamp.
However, Philip Ekisa also says he was officially handed the office stamp by Walter Iriama, the then Busia Chief Administrative Officer who he said officially declared him the village chairperson.
Buteba Sub County LC III chairperson Steven Okunyuku also wonders how two people got declaration forms declaring them winners. According to Paul Kalikwan, the Deputy Busia Resident District Commissioner, the confusion is a security threat and has asked Electoral Commission to sort out the menace in the village.
We could not reach the Busia District Registrar for comment by press time.
