The Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election was marked by low voter turnout on Thursday, with several polling stations across the island district recording sparse attendance despite voting proceeding largely peacefully.
By midday, many of the district’s polling stations remained largely deserted, raising concerns among candidates and election officials about voter mobilisation and participation.
The by-election was called following the death of former Woman MP Hellen Nakimuli in April.
At several polling stations visited by Monitor, including Kibanga Playground, Kibanga Church of Uganda and Mweena Playground, electoral materials and voters were present before polling began, although some stations experienced delays in opening.
At Kiizi Playground polling station, voter Kisitu Sam attributed the low turnout to voter apathy and the migration of residents who previously depended on the silverfish (mukene) trade.
‘Some people lost faith in elections, while others who appear in the Electoral Commission register left Kalangala months ago because they no longer have business here,’ he said.
Kalangala’s economy is heavily dependent on fishing and related activities, with many residents moving frequently in search of work.
Independent candidate Hellen Flavia Nagawa alleged widespread voter bribery and accused security agencies of targeting her polling agents.
‘Voters are being bribed in broad daylight in villages and near polling stations. Our agents are being arrested. Such actions make this election not free and fair,’ she said after casting her vote.
However, Southern Region Police spokesperson Mr Twaha Kasirye dismissed the allegations.
‘It is coming to 1pm and we haven’t arrested any person so far as the claims are circulating. We only request voters to behave well so that we have a violence-free exercise,’ he said.
At Senero Landing Site polling station, fewer than 40 voters had cast their ballots by 11am.
National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Irene Nampala, who voted at Damba polling station on Bukasa Island, described the turnout as disappointing and called for intensified mobilisation efforts.
‘It is sad that the turnout is low, which means we need to scale up mobilisation so that people come out to vote in the afternoon before the exercise closes,’ she said.
Nampala expressed confidence of victory despite the slow pace of voting.
National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Aidah Nabayiga attributed the low turnout to the nature of the district’s fishing communities.
‘Naturally, our voters are fishermen and people involved in agriculture. They first attend to their jobs and later come to vote,’ she said, predicting a strong performance for her campaign.
Voting was also delayed at some polling stations in Bubeke Sub-county following an early morning downpour, while procedural disagreements at Mweena Playground (A-M) polling station pushed the start of voting to about 8:15am.
Five candidates are contesting the seat: NUP’s Irene Nampala, NRM’s Aidah Nabayiga, and independents Hellen Flavia Nagawa, Sharifa Kaala Babirye and Susan Nasuuna.
The district has 45,246 registered voters expected to vote at 155 polling stations spread across 64 habitable islands.
In the January general election, the late Nakimuli retained the seat on the NUP ticket with 10,609 votes against Nabayiga’s 9,245 votes.
Election officials are expected to begin tallying results after the close of voting.