Serere District by-elections: Tight security Measures Implemented Ahead of Polls.

Security personnel and machinery have been heavily deployed ahead of tomorrow Serere district by-elections which will take place Thursday this week.

Hundreds of soldiers and police personnel backed by armored vehicles have pitched camp at Serere district headquarters. Several police trucks were also seen patrolling the district.

Police have also hoisted a mast on one of the trucks to boost their communication with foot soldiers in the remote villages of Serere without good network coverage.

 Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa was on Wednesday reportedly arrested while training polling agents of Mr Emmanuel Omoding, an independent candidate for tomorrow’s Serere county by-election.

However, police said the MP was arrested on allegations of conducting campaigns yet they were closed yesterday. "We arrested him on hearing that he was campaigning on the day they are not meant to campaign.

 He is at CPS for interrogation. We’ll decide whether to release him today, depending on the findings of the interrogation," police spokesperson for east Kyoga region, Mr Oscar Ageca said.

 Mr Omoding lamented that since Tuesday, this week, they have been trailed and many of his agents have been arrested.

 Candidates in the race include Ms Alice Alaso of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) who is also supported by NUP after the party failing to front there own frag bereer and Mr Emmanuel Eratu of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

 The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has three party leaning candidates in the Serere County by-election. Initially, a rift had emerged as majority NRM leaders from Serere County fronted Mr Emmanuel Omoding, the son of the late Patrick Okabe, the former MP who died in an accident.

 Mr Omoding was chosen despite the party having Mr Philip Oucor, who was the substantive NRM party flag bearer.

The two factions failed to harmonise, with Mr Omoding getting nominated as an independent candidate and Mr Oucor remaining as the NRM flag bearer.

These were joined by Mr Martin Onguruco, also an NRM leaning independent candidate.