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.
“Unfortunately, we had a few incidents in some polling stations where the female councillor ballot papers were not in order. They were not the correct ballots for those polling stations,” he said.
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.
“We are candidates in this race, and we invested heavily in the campaign, but it’s unfortunate that people didn’t turn up to vote. Voter education by the Electoral Commission was not extensive. When we ask people to vote, they ask for transport, yet these are the same people who later demand better services,” Rev Muhanda said.
He urged voters to take the voting exercise seriously, emphasizing that it is the elected leaders who are responsible for delivering services to the people.
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.