Butaleja Man Goes Blind Shortly After Winning PDM SACCO Elections, Witchcraft Suspicions Emerge.

By Ambrose Wanagoli

A newly elected Parish Development Model (PDM) SACCO chairperson in Butaleja District is reportedly battling a mysterious eye complication that has left him partially blind, sparking speculation among some residents that he may have fallen victim to witchcraft following a highly contested election.

Shaban Nabande Hasahya was elected chairperson of the Mwiha Ward PDM SACCO  after polling 285 votes, defeating incumbent Musa Hatinda, who secured 90 votes.

Moments after being declared winner, Nabande pledged to reconcile divided community members and promote transparency and accountability in the management of PDM funds.

He accused the outgoing leadership of presiding over a system in which some residents allegedly lost money and property while seeking inclusion on the list of PDM beneficiaries.

According to Nabande, community members were reportedly required to pay fees for registration, photocopying documents, opening bank accounts, airtime for executives, and facilitation of PDM coordinators.

However, celebrations were cut short when Nabande, a resident of mwiha Ward busaba Town Council, reportedly developed a sudden eye complication shortly after the election. Family members and residents said his condition deteriorated rapidly, resulting in loss of sight in one eye.

The unexplained development has fueled speculation among sections of the community, with some residents alleging that the newly elected leader may have been bewitched because of the bitter rivalry that characterized the elections.

No evidence has been presented to support the claims, and medical professionals had not publicly commented on the cause of the condition by press time.

Paul Hamimo, a resident of Mwiha Ward, claimed that his wife sold more than eight turkeys to raise money allegedly demanded by the outgoing SACCO leadership. He said she later received only Shs800,000 despite the government’s allocation of Shs1 million per beneficiary.

Festo Higenyi, chairperson of the vetting committee for Mwiha PDM SACCO, challenged Nabande to unite members and promote teamwork.

He accused the previous leadership of being dictatorial and alleged that bribery had become common in the management of PDM activities.

The election followed the cancellation of an earlier vote last month by the Resident District Commissioner’s office over allegations of voter bribery.

Residents also alleged that some voters had been transported to polling stations in vehicles arranged to influence the outcome in favor of the incumbent leadership.

Meanwhile, Butaleja District PDM Focal Person Amina Dugo recently warned that district-wide re-elections for PDM leaders could be conducted following allegations of widespread corruption and electoral irregularities

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the allegations surrounding the election or the circumstances behind Nabande’s sudden eye condition