Incidences of low voter turn out, electoral violence, arrests and ballot paper errors were observed as districts and cities across Uganda on Thursday headed to the polls to elect district chairpersons, municipal mayors and city mayors.
In Makindye Division in Kampala, voter turnout was notably low by mid-day. Both agents and security personnel could be seen dozing off at various polling stations as they waited for voters.
In Ankole sub-region voting has been in only seven districts for district chairpersons and City mayors.
Though the region has 13 districts including Mbarara City, Kazo, Kiruhura, Ibanda, Rwampara, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Sheema, Bushenyi, Rubirizi, Mitooma, Buhweju and Isingiro; some district chairpersons went through unopposed.
The districts with unopposed candidates included Isingiro, Ibanda, Bushenyi, Sheema, Mbarara and Rwampara.
Other districts including Mbarara City had competing candidates but voter turnout was key as voters did not participate the same way they did in the presidential and parliamentary elections.
‘I am surprised I came to the polling station at Kyamugolani Church of Uganda at 1PM but I was the 10th voter of the day. Voters are demoralized because they were getting money to vote during the presidential and parliamentary elections which was not the case in Thursday’s election,’ Ms Hilder Atuhaire Nyakato a voter in Mbarara District said.
Mr Aron Tumwesigye, a voter in Kyamugolani said they were disappointed during the presidential and parliamentary election because the electoral commission declared different results.
‘We came and voted the other time but the results the electoral commission declared were different from the actual votes. They declared different people from the ones we voted for so people are keeping in their homes because at the end of the day they will declare what they (EC) want,’ he said.
In Ntungamo district at least five people were arrested from different polling stations over alleged ballot stuffing.
The Ntungamo district police commander Mr Joshua Mwesigwa said, ‘Some are polling officials, we also have some agents of candidates and voters themselves. We are fortunate that there is limited violence. The challenge is where the people were getting the ballots from. We have calmed the situation and I hope we shall have a very peaceful election.’
In Kazo District, Police are investigating an assault incident involving independent candidate Sam Muyambi, who is vying for the district chairman seat.
Mr Muyambi allegedly attacked Justus Mugume, the agent of the incumbent chairman, Rev. Mugisha Samuel Katugunda.
The incident occurred at Kyabahura 1 Model Primary School Polling Station in Kazo Town Council.
‘I am an agent and also a voter for Samuel Katugunda. It was around 9:30am and Mr Sam Muyambi came in a vehicle, guarded by a soldier. They entered a polling station and approached where I was seated without saying anything, he punched me and the soldier stood between us before people came to separate us,’ Mr Mugume said.
Meanwhile, voting for the Fort Portal City Female Councillor was on Thursday cancelled in several wards across the Northern and Central divisions after some polling stations failed to receive the correct ballot papers, while others received mixed-up ballots.
“The Electoral Commission decided to cancel the City Female Councillor elections in the affected areas due to the errors. A new voting date will be communicated before February 4,” said Isaac Byamugisha, the Fort Portal City Returning Officer.
He explained that polling materials were generally delivered on time across the city, and voting for other non-affected candidates proceeded at different intervals.
In the Northern Division, voting was cancelled in upper parishes within Karago, Kizingo, Kiguma, Ibonde, Kitarasa, Nyakitojo, Kitaka, and Makondo wards.
In the Central Division, affected areas included Central West wards of Kibimba, Nyabukara, and Rwengoma, as well as Central South wards of Bazaar, Kasusu, and Kijanju.
Josephine Komuhimbo, a female city councillor candidate, expressed disappointment with the Electoral Commission.
“My supporters came early to vote for me, but were disappointed to find that our ballot papers were missing in some polling stations. We have been promised that the voting exercise will be conducted within two weeks,” she said.
Voting for the Fort Portal City Mayor and City Councillors also experienced delays due to low voter turnout. Out of about 190 polling stations, voting in most centers started after 8:00am.
At Jesus Supply Church in the Central Division, which hosts three polling stations, voting at stations AK and KZ had not commenced by 9:30am due to the absence of the required minimum of 10 voters to witness the opening of the ballot boxes.
Three candidates are contesting the City mayoral race; NRM’s Albert Ahebwa, independent candidate Rev. Willy Kintu Muhanda, and Sylvia Kihunde attributed the low turnout to inadequate voter education.
At Nyabukara A and B polling stations, turnout remained low by midday, with it taking more than five minutes for a single voter to arrive and cast a ballot.
West Nile
A windy summer atmosphere engulfed most polling stations in Arua City as a few voters trickled in to cast their votes in the morning for the local council elections.
Some of the voters said they wanted to brave the morning dry wind to cast their votes so that they could go and hustle at their different workplaces.
One such voter turned up at 7:40 am to cast his vote but had to wait until 9:20 am.
‘There is voter apathy because by 9am, nobody came to the polling station. People started voting by 9:20am and behind me, there were only three other voters,’ said Mr Martin Andama.
At Bazaar Polling station, the Presiding Officer, Mr Derrick Okwaimungu, said: ‘For Presidential elections, there were very many. But I do not know why they have not turned up till this time (9:40 am) yet voting materials were delivered early.’
A Presiding Officer, Ms Harriet Trimaru, of Arua Central Market O-Z, said: ‘We couldn’t start at 7am because voters were not there. This time, we do not know how the turn up would be because last week the turn up was low. We had 531 voters and those who turned up were 145. I do not know if we can even get 145 voters for this Mayoral and councilor elections.
At Odumi polling station in Arua District, by 10:20 am, about 60 people had voted. It had the highest turn up compared to other polling stations. It has 452 registered voters.
Youth in demobilisation move
In Arua district, a section of youth were held responsible for demobilizing people against voting.
Mr Anguyo Pariyo, a voter in Arua district and former councilor, said: ‘People are extremely dissatisfied with parliamentary election results. It is not only results but how the elections were conducted which ended up to be rigged. We have advised the youth not to demobilise people, because this will not add value.’
In Nebbi Municipality, by 9am, at Boma 1 polling station, the polling officers remained relaxed and glued to their phones as they waited for the 10 polling witnesses to open the biometric screening machines.
In Maracha District, there were almost empty polling stations at various areas as the voter turnout was very low. Voting started at 9.00am but by midday, there were only 34 voters who voted at Gbulukua Primary School polling station.
The arrests
In Obongi district, the police arrested three supporters of incumbent district chairperson, Mr Rashid Azabo Kenyingopi, an independent candidate. Rashid claimed that his supporters were taken into custody by backers of his opponent while on their way to town.
The Police Public Relations Officer for North West Nile Region, Mr Collins Asea, confirmed that the three were detained due to concerns that they might be harmed.
Busoga
Election officials reported cases of ballot staffing irregularities at Kibibi polling station in Jinja Northern Division during the mayoral elections.
The presiding polling officer at the station, Mr John Tiwaaku, said he was attacked by a group of NRM supporters who stormed the polling station, grabbed ballot papers, and allegedly pre-ticked them in favour of the NRM candidate.
‘I cannot properly account for the EC property, especially the ballot papers that were taken away by the attackers,’ Mr Tiwaaku said. ‘They came in a group, and there was no manpower to restrain them. They assaulted me and some voters and made off with part of the ballot papers.’
Jinja City Returning Officer, Ms Falvia Nakasi, confirmed the incidents, saying investigations were ongoing.
“It is unfortunate that some individuals disrupted the polling process. Police have intervened and are conducting investigations,” she said.
Ms Nakasi said the presiding officers have been taken to police to make a statement.
The mayoral race in Jinja City is highly competitive, featuring 14 candidates, but the major contenders remain Independent Candidate Peter Kasolo Okecho (incumbent), Abdulhafidh Nagaya (NRM), and Mubarak Kirunda (NUP).