Allegations of Massive Tampering Surface in Masaka Recount as “Pre-Ticked” and Empty Ballot Boxes Discovered

Masaka, Uganda – A court-sanctioned vote recount in Masaka has been plunged into crisis following the discovery of a ballot box containing entirely pre-ticked ballots for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Nameere, and another box found completely empty. This has sparked immediate and fierce allegations of systematic tampering and led to urgent calls for the exercise to be halted.

The recount, which is already a subject of intense political controversy, was initiated to verify results from a recent election. According to official Declaration of Results (DR) forms from the polling stations in question, the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, Hon. Nalubowa Rose, was declared the winner.

However, observers and party agents report a stark discrepancy. At one station, the physical ballot box contained papers all marked for the NRM’s Nameere, directly contradicting the DR form. At another, a box was found with no ballots at all.

“This is more than enough evidence that the boxes were tampered with,” stated a spokesperson for the NUP legal team. “The pattern suggests that regime operatives broke the boxes from the lower part and stuffed them with pre-ticked ballots in favor of Nameere. The magistrate should, at this point, stop this sham exercise to preserve any shred of electoral integrity.”

Further fueling allegations of manipulation is the apparent skew of the recounted numbers. While the tallies for other candidates reportedly remain largely consistent with originally announced figures, Nameere’s votes have seen dramatic, unexplained increases. In some instances, where initial counts showed her receiving 20 votes, recounts are allegedly finding an additional 120 ballot papers in her favor.

“The miracle is only happening for one candidate,” a monitoring agent noted. “This isn’t a recount; it’s a rewrite.”

Calls are mounting for the presiding magistrate to cancel the recount entirely. “The magistrate must save his dignity and cancel the recount,” the NUP statement continued. “The people of Masaka must reject the fraudster who is trying to impose herself on them through blatant forgery and criminal interference.”

The developments have heightened tensions in the region, with fears that the loss of faith in the electoral process could lead to further unrest. Citizens and civil society organizations are watching closely, demanding transparency and justice.

As of now, the magistrate has not issued a formal statement on whether the recount will continue in light of these discoveries. The exercise remains ongoing, but under a cloud of legitimacy that threatens to undermine its final outcome entirely.