Military Police has reinforced over 800 regular Uganda Police officers in Kyadondo East about two hours before vote counting started at 4pm in an election that pits pop star Bobi Wine against candidates of the country’s ruling party and largest opposition grouping.

The by-election has attracted five candidates but there is tight competition among Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Apollo Kantinti and National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer William Sitenda Sebalu.

Earlier, pockets of violence were reported in the election relating to claims of pre-ticked ballots.

At some point, the locals and police hurled insults at each others. Some arrests were also made in the ensuing clashes between police, voters and onlookers.

On the deployment of military police, Police Spokesperson Asan Kasingye said: “As has been the norm, we invite the military to take charge. It is coming to darkness. The voting is over and now we have to beef our security.”

“The constitution says we are allowed to use other security agencies and that is why we have deployed the army.”