The Electoral Commission (EC) is grappling with more than 500 petitions arising from the recently concluded Local Council I (LC1) elections, with complaints ranging from widespread allegations of violence and procedural irregularities to disputed results across several parts of the country.
The mounting grievances came to light during a community engagement in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District, where local leaders and residents voiced frustration over the conduct of the grassroot polls held on July 28 across more than 71,000 villages nationwide.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister for Local Government, Mr Balaam Barugahara, revealed that veteran politician Ms Gertrude Njuba had petitioned both President Yoweri Museveni and the EC regarding the Nangabo LC1 election, which she stated was severely marred by violence and irregularities.
Mr Barugahara noted that similar grievances from Kasangati Town Council prompted President Museveni on Monday to issue a direct directive for an immediate state intervention to address the rising tension.
“The President directed me to come here and address these issues immediately. We have to concentrate on the 500 cells where elections were not conducted fairly and ensure that the concerns are resolved,” Mr Barugahara said.
One of the most contentious outcomes involves Nangabo village, where 20-year-old Tracy Nalugwa Kibuuka was reported victorious amid controversy. Following discussions during the engagement, stakeholders resolved that the Nangabo dispute should first be reviewed by local party leaders under the guidance of Ms Njuba. The minister urged aggrieved parties nationwide to submit their complaints through official legal channels and seek peaceful resolutions.
Representing the Electoral Commission, Mr Abubakar Kayondo confirmed that the electoral body is currently auditing reports to determine whether the declared results align with ground realities.
“We have so far received more than 500 petitions concerning the LC1 elections. More than 300 cases have been reviewed, and Nangabo is among the key petitions,” Mr Kayondo stated.
According to Mr Kayondo, the commission’s legal team is reviewing each petition to determine appropriate redress. The EC is weighing three primary options to settle the disputes: ordering by-elections, referring contentious matters to the courts of law, or organizing fresh polls in areas where no winner was declared.
Citing Article 61(1) of the Electoral Commission legal framework, Mr Kayondo emphasized that the EC holds the constitutional mandate to ascertain and declare final results based on verified official reports. He assured affected communities that all petitions will be handled expeditiously to restore public trust in the grassroots democratic process.