By KT Reporter
Several voters in Kitgum Municipality and Kitgum District turned up at polling stations on Tuesday, only to find them closed after the repeat and aborted elections were postponed to February 26.
Some voters said they were unaware of the postponement and had travelled early to cast their ballots, but found no election officials, materials, or security personnel at the designated polling centres.
Justin Okello, a resident of Nyanya Cell in Pongdwongo Ward, Kitgum Municipality, said he arrived at his polling station at 8 a.m., hoping to witness the opening of polling kits and be among the first to vote. Instead, he found the station deserted.
“I came early, thinking I would vote and go to work, but the station was empty. I never knew about the second postponement of the exercise,” Okello said. Voting for the Male Councillor III seat in Pongdwongo Ward had initially been postponed following the death of one of the candidates, Nicholas Otim Ojara, who died on the eve of polling day after a short illness.
The Electoral Commission (EC) later announced Tuesday, February 17, as the date for the aborted election, but subsequently set a new date, a change that left several voters unaware. Karen Apiyo said she was among more than a dozen people who reported early to the polling station, only to find it closed. She criticised what she described as poor communication by the Commission, warning that the lack of timely information undermines voter confidence and discourages participation.
“The Commission must improve its communication to voters to avoid confusion and mistrust in the whole electoral process,” Apiyo said.
In Okidi Okidi Parish, Labongo Amida West Sub-county, a similar incident was reported. Amos Oloya, the LCIII Chairperson of Labongo Amida West, told Uganda Radio Network that the latest change was made on Monday, February 16.
Christine Adong, a resident of Okidi Trading Centre, said she arrived at Okidi Primary School polling station at 8:40 a.m., only to realise that voting was not taking place.
“I found people standing around, confused. Later, we were told the election had been postponed,” Adong said.
Adong appealed to the Electoral Commission to communicate such changes at least a week in advance to ensure the information reaches all voters, especially those travelling from distant villages. Attempts to obtain a comment from the Kitgum Returning Officer were unsuccessful. She declined to comment by phone and was not at her office by 11 a.m
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