Police in Oyam District fired live bullets into the air to disperse suspected non-bonafide voters during a chaotic LC2 chairperson election in Bar Parish, Abok Sub-county.
The incident occurred on Monday as three candidates, independent Moris Oyepa, NRM’s Francis Oyuku, and independent Samwell Bua Eyoko, contested for the position.
Trouble reportedly started when individuals suspected to be supporters of Oyuku attempted to join the voting line despite allegedly not appearing on the official voters’ register.
The confrontation escalated, forcing police to intervene and fire bullets into the air to disperse the crowd and restore order. The disruption prevented election officials from officially declaring the results by press time.
Oyepa accused election officials and security personnel of failing to stop what he described as “goons” allegedly linked to his opponent’s camp. He maintained that his supporters had remained peaceful throughout the voting exercise.
Oyuku, the NRM candidate, declined to comment when contacted, saying he was not in a stable state to speak to journalists.
A resident, Dilish Awor, said the campaigns had been peaceful but blamed frequent changes in voting venues for creating confusion among voters.
Joseph Omona, the Oyam District Returning Officer, said he had not yet received an official report on what transpired during the election in Bar Parish.
The incident comes amid heightened attention on the ongoing local council elections, with security and electoral officials expected to ensure that only eligible voters participate in the exercise.