The elections for city mayors, district chairpersons, municipal council mayors and councillors were marked by low voter turn up, and ballot errors that led to suspension of the voting exercise in some districts across the country yesterday. Uncertainty hung over Wakiso District yesterday as voters turned up in low numbers to elect a new district chairperson (LC5) and district councillors, raising questions about voter confidence and participation in local government elections.
The closely watched race for the LC5 seat pits National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Nasif Najja against ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag bearer Ian Kyeyune and Democratic Front (DF) contender Flavia Nakafeero. Although Wakiso is widely regarded as an NUP stronghold, the low voter turnout and the presence of an experienced former district chairperson in the race appeared to complicate predictions about the outcome. Mr Kyeyune, who previously served as Wakiso District chairperson, campaigned on a message of reconciliation and experience, arguing that the district needs inclusive leadership to address its growing population and administrative challenges.
In Butebo District, the Electoral Commission (EC) suspended the election of the chairperson and councillors following reports of malpractice, including violence and ballot stuffing. According to the letter seen by the Daily Monitor, signed by the chairperson of EC, Justice Simon Byabakama dated January 22, 2026; the postponement was due to reports of serious interruptions to the electoral process. Sources said violence erupted in several sub-counties as the supporters of opposing candidates fought using sticks and stones, leaving several injured. Elsewhere, voting for the Fort Portal City Female Councillor was cancelled in several wards across the Northern and Central divisions after some polling stations received the wrong ballot papers, while others received ballots that were mixed up in candidates’ details.
The Fort Portal City Returning Officer, MrIsaac Byamugisha, told this publication that the EC cancelled the elections in the affected areas due to the errors. He added that a new voting date would be communicated before February 4. Ms Josephine Komuhimbo, one of the affected female city councillor candidates for Fort Portal City West, expressed disappointment with the EC, saying the mistakes were avoidable since nominations were conducted more than five months ago.
However, the voting in Central and Northern divisions generally experienced delays, largely due to low voter turnout. Out of about 190 polling stations, voting in most centres started after 8am.
Affected areas included Nyabukara, and Rwengoma as well as Central South wards of Bazaar, Kasusu, and Kijanju in Central Division. Ms Josephine Komuhimbo, one of the affected city councillor candidates for Fort Portal City West, expressed disappointment with the EC, saying the errors were avoidable since nominations were conducted over five months ago. In Kagadi District and the greater Kibaale area, including Kakumiro District, candidates for the district chairperson positions expressed concern over the low voter turnout, fearing it could affect election outcomes. Although polling materials were delivered to designated polling centers on time, voting did not start early in some areas due to the absence of witnesses required to flag off the exercise.
In Masaka City, the low voter turnout was prevalent even at polling stations like Fork Land, Bata Cell that have many voters. Mr Jason Erick Ludigo, the presiding officer at Bata Cell LUC to NAKK Polling Station said only 62 voters had cast their votes by noon out of 475 registered at the polling station.
At Kirumba Health Centre II M-NAL polling station, only 31 out of 460 voters had shown up by noon. In Lyantonde District, two independent district LCV contenders – Cleophas Tukamarwa, a former journalist and James Nemeye, a businessman pulled out of the race on election day ,leaving NRM’s Moses Ali Ssemanda and NUP’s Edward Kateregga to tussle it out .
Mr Salim Asiimwe, a NUP supporter attributed the low voter turnout to voter fatigue. ‘Many people here voted for their candidates and were not announced winners .So, they feel it is now useless to take part in another round of election where they don’t expect to fairness,’ he said
Mr Imon Tusiime, the district returning officer said: ‘When the BVVK machines failed to work in some sub-countries during presidential and parliamentary election, we got a technical person who helped to fix them and all are now working at all the 144 polling stations.’ In Mpigi District, voters in Kammengo Sub-county refused to vote for the direct district councillor following a mix up of party symbols with the bus put against NUP candidate Ronald Kaggwa Kibirige’s name while Joseph Mugatte Kasule of NRM was given an umbrella.
Mr Kasule said the EC officials had apologised for the mix-up and promised to organise fresh elections in the area. In Mukono and Kalangala, several polling stations remained largely deserted throughout the day, raising serious concerns about voter mobilisation and civic education. Mr Moses Nyombi, the chairman of Wantoni Cell in Mukono Municipality, said his constituency has approximately 1,800 registered voters but no voting had taken place by 10am.
At Booma Grounds Polling Station in Kitswamba Town Council, Kasese District, voting began at after 8am after the required quorum of 10 voters to witness the opening of the exercise was not met earlier on, Mr Bonny Mbusa, the presiding Officer, told Daily Monitor that the first voter cast a ballot at 8:45am. By 10:30am, only 20 ballot papers had been issued for the three district chairperson candidates. At St Edward’s Polling Station in Masindi Municipality, which has 472 registered voters, only 52 voters had cast their ballots by midday. The Presiding Officer, Ms Najuko Sumaya, said more than 280 voters had voted by midday during the presidential elections.
At Kihonda Polling Station in Masindi District, with 450 registered voters, only 31 voters had cast their ballots by 11a.m. In Mbale City, the story wasn’t different. In Maluku Ward, industrial City Division, a densely populated suburb, no voter had turned up by 10am. The ward has five polling stations. Mr Henry Nambale, a voter at Malawa Polling Station, said the turn up was very poor due to electoral irregularities that marred last Thursday’s elections. At Bupomboli II Polling Station in Harugale Sub-county, Bundibugyo District, voting began at 7:30am. However, voter turnout was extremely low compared to previous elections. One voter, Ms Doreen Biira, said most people were more interested in the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections. ‘There were many irregularities in the recent polls, and this shows that voters’ rights have not been respected.’
Kasese District, which has a total of 1,033 polling stations with 426,390 registered voters, several polling stations had not yet received the minimum quorum of 10 voters required to witness the official opening of the voting exercise by 9am. In Arua, 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. Ms Harriet Trimaru, the presiding officer 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 councillors elections.’
In Lira City, most polling stations registered low voter’s turnout. At Barapwo Health Centre that has three polling stations, there were only 37 voters by 11:30am.
In Jinja City, the polling stations recorded low voter turnout, with several polling stations reporting no voters hours after opening. Mr Gabriel Ouma, a voter, criticised the government for not declaring a public holiday.
In Kigezi, the low voter turn up was reported in some parts of the sub-region. At Kabale Parents school polling station in Kabale Town, 26 voters out of the 434 registered voters on that polling station had cast their vote by 9:50am. The chairman for Central Division in Kabale Municipality, Mr Sam Arineitwe, said voting for all political heads in the local governments should be conducted on the same day with that of the presidential and parliamentary candidates if the issue of low turn up is to be resolved.
Incidents of chaos
Mr Nicholas Kalanzi, a mayoral candidate for Jinja City, attributed the low turnout to the ugly scenes that followed the presidential and parliamentary elections, as well as general voter disinterest in the process. ‘From our consultations, last week’s events discouraged many voters, and others simply chose not to vote,’ Mr Kalanzi, who votes near the Busoga Kingdom headquarters, said. In Kaliro District, three people, including a polling assistant, were injured when nearly 20 people attacked Bukura-Bwire Polling Station in Namugongo Sub-county yesterday.
Mr Rogers Kiduma, Kaliro Assistant Resident District Commissioner, confirmed the attack, saying assailants seized and marked ballot papers before fleeing. Security was reinforced and fresh ballots issued. Also, at least five people were arrested at different polling stations in Ntungamo District over allegations of ballot stuffing. Ntungamo District Police Commander Joshua Mwesigwa said: ‘Some are polling officials, we also have some agents of candidates and voters themselves…We have arrested the situation and I hope we shall have a very peaceful election.’ Meanwhile election officials yesterday reported cases of ballot staffing irregularities at Kibibi Polling Station in Jinja Northern Division during the mayoral elections. Jinja City Returning Officer, Ms Falvia Nakasi, confirmed the incidents, saying: ‘It is unfortunate that some individuals disrupted the polling process. Police have intervened and are conducting investigations.”