NYAGATARE - Police in Nyagatare District are holding four electoral commission polling staff for allegedly stealing ballot papers during Monday’s local government elections for district advisory council members and women representatives at the district level.

According to Police, one of the suspects, George Ntaremba, was attached to Ntoma polling station in Rwimiyaga Sector, while three others; Grace Uwineza, Theogene Habamenshi and Innocent Mugabarugira were attached to Amohoro, Gahura and Isangano polling sites in Rukomo Sector.

Police said that Ntaremba, a student at Umutara Polytechnic University, was arrested with16 ballot papers.

"He has even confessed,” a police official at Rwimiyaga polling station said.

Thomas Ruhanika, the head of electoral commission in the area, said that he was shocked by the election malpractice.

"We were shocked to hear some of our staff was involved in such activities, yet we carried out a series of training in which they were cautioned against bias of any kind.”

According to Police, the suspects planned to use the ballot papers to vote for their favourite candidates.

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