STAFF REPORTER
Tension flared today in Nyakahanga A village, Nyarushanje sub-county, Rubabo County, as residents rejected participation in the LC1 NRM flag bearer elections, citing unresolved grievances over the alleged transfer of their village from Nyabushenyi Parish to Kiganga Parish.
At the heart of the protest is the controversial relocation of Nyakahanga A from its original administrative unit of Nyabushenyi—a move residents say was done without their consent or prior consultation. According to resident Jolly Karekyezi, the anomaly was discovered during the voter register update in March. Efforts to seek redress from the Gomborola Chief of Nyarushanje have since yielded no response.
“We wrote to the sub-county leadership and were promised intervention, but up to now, no one has addressed our concerns,” Karekyezi lamented.
The unrest is compounded by dissatisfaction over how the division was implemented. According to Godfrey Byeshekesha, another resident, Nyabushenyi Parish originally had 15 villages. Upon division, it retained 8, while 7—including Nyakahanga A—were reassigned to the newly created Kiganga Parish. However, Godfrey questioned the criteria used, noting that villages like Rwebihondo and Kimbungu, which geographically border Kiganga Parish, were oddly left out of the shift.
“We are not going to vote unless we are returned to Nyabushenyi Parish. We feel abandoned,” Godfrey declared, vowing continued peaceful demonstrations.
A similar sentiment was echoed by LC1 contestants Tumukwasibwe Hannington, Zaburoni Byaryegirira, and Enoth Mperiwe. They condemned the administrative decision, citing lack of access to essential services in Kiganga Parish, such as schools, health centres, and passable roads.
“I have served as a leader in Nyakahanga A for years, but I am now registered under Kiganga where I don’t belong,” Enoth Mperiwe said.
Taremwa Obed, the polling registrar who has overseen elections in Nyakahanga A for a decade, expressed concern over the incident. He revealed that residents refused to cooperate upon arrival at the polling station due to their unresolved grievances.
“This is the first time we are facing a total boycott. It’s troubling to see the people completely reject the process,” Obed noted.
