A section of candidates contesting the Local Council I (LCI) chairperson election in Godown Cell, Teko Parish, Bardege-Layibi Division in Gulu City have protested the last-minute relocation of their polling station, arguing that the move disadvantaged both candidates and voters.
The election, which attracted five candidates, was initially scheduled to take place at Lasu Maria Grounds in Godown Cell. However, election officials, working with security agencies, relocated the polling station to the Gulu Logistics Hub just hours before polling commenced. The race features National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Denis Acellam and independent candidates Apollo Okot, Geoffrey Ocitti, Tony Komakech and Francis Oweka.
A presiding officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to the media, said the decision followed directives from the Gulu City Electoral Commission Registrar and security agencies over concerns about insecurity at the open grounds. Francis Oweka, one of the candidates, told Uganda Radio Network that contestants were informed of the change at about 7:00 a.m., leaving them with little time to notify their supporters.
Oweka questioned the justification for relocating the polling station, noting that previous elections, including the recent Women Council elections and the January general elections, had been conducted at Lasu Maria Grounds. Another candidate, Geoffrey Ocitti, also criticised the decision, describing it as unfair and announcing that he would boycott the election at the new venue.
However, Kamba Amiri, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Bardege-Layibi Division, defended the relocation, saying it was based on security assessments indicating a risk of violence. According to Amiri, the recent Women Council elections at the same venue were disrupted by violence that affected nearby businesses.
He added that security agencies had also received intelligence suggesting that some candidates were planning to incite chaos during the LCI elections, prompting the decision to move voting to a more secure location. By 9:30 a.m., only two of the five candidates—Denis Acellam and Apollo Okot—had reported to the relocated polling station at the Gulu Logistics Hub.
More than a dozen voters were undergoing the mandatory verification process, indicating a slow start to polling following the last-minute venue change. Gulu City Electoral Commission Registrar Mike Jjuko dismissed allegations that candidates had not been informed in time. He said all candidates were notified on Monday evening after security agencies raised concerns about a possible disruption of the election.
Jjuko said the Electoral Commission received intelligence indicating that one of the candidates was mobilising supporters to report to the polling station while intoxicated with the intention of causing chaos. “After receiving intelligence that one of the candidates was mobilising people to come to the polling station drunk and cause chaos, we decided to relocate the polling station to an enclosed venue where the election can be properly managed,” Jjuko said.
He said the decision was intended to safeguard voters and election officials, stressing that public safety takes precedence over political interests. Jjuko added that the election would proceed, and results would be declared regardless of whether aggrieved candidates participated-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
