By Eye Media | Mbale | July 15, 2026

Police in Mbale City have launched investigations into the death of an aspiring Local Council One (LC1) chairperson who reportedly collapsed shortly after completing his nomination on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Ismail Tebirondwa, who was contesting for the LC1 chairperson seat of Lwakhakha Cell in Mbale Industrial City Division.

According to Elgon Region Police spokesperson SP Rogers Taitika, police are still investigating the circumstances that led to Tebirondwa’s sudden collapse and subsequent death.

“We ask the public to give us time to establish the circumstances surrounding his collapse and death,” Taitika said.

The police spokesperson further revealed that the deceased’s relatives allegedly removed his body from the scene before police could take him for treatment or conduct a postmortem examination.

The development has complicated investigations as authorities seek to establish the exact cause of death.

Meanwhile, Mbale City Electoral Commission Returning Officer Michael Arinaitwe said the city had put in place a nomination schedule allocating specific days for candidates from different wards.

“We had a nomination schedule, but many candidates did not follow it. We could not turn them away because they have a right to be nominated. We hope the exercise will be more organised in the coming days,” Arinaitwe said.

Arinaitwe confirmed that the Electoral Commission had received reports that a candidate had collapsed during the nomination exercise but noted that the exact circumstances surrounding the death would be determined by police investigations.

The incident has cast a sombre mood over the ongoing LC1 election process in Mbale City, where nominations for village chairperson positions are continuing.

Police have appealed to the public to remain calm as investigations into the matter continue.