Voting for Local Council I (LCI) committees was disrupted in parts of Masaka and Luwero sub-regions on Tuesday after protests over candidate eligibility, voter registers and residency requirements forced election officials to suspend polling at several stations.
Although the Electoral Commission had scheduled voting to begin at 11:00 a.m., with voters lining up behind their preferred candidates, the exercise had not commenced at several polling stations by 1:30 p.m. due to disagreements between voters, candidates and election officials.
n Masaka City, voting was suspended at Kayirikiti Piida Cell in Mulema Ward, Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, after residents rejected National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Johnbosco Walakira, who had been left unopposed following the cancellation of his rival’s nomination.
On Monday, the Electoral Commission revoked the nomination of National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Nasiimu Kaseesa Busoomu after determining that he was still serving as a government teacher and had not resigned before contesting for the LCI chairperson position.
Despite Walakira remaining the only candidate, residents blocked the election, accusing him of being a dishonest land broker and a non-resident of the area. They also prevented him from nominating members of his executive committee. Led by Joseph Ssenkusu, the residents demanded that the Electoral Commission reopen nominations to allow another candidate to contest instead of declaring Walakira elected unopposed.
The protests prompted Nyendo-Mukungwe Division Election Supervisor Milly Nagawa to suspend the election until further notice. A similar standoff occurred at Ssaza Central Cell in Katwe Ward, where supporters of the Democratic Front (DF) and the NRM reportedly formed a last-minute alliance against the NUP candidate. The move sparked protests from NUP supporters, leading to chaos that forced security personnel, acting on the Returning Officer’s request, to suspend the election.
Elsewhere in Masaka City, voting at Kirinda Polling Station in Nyendo Ward was also called off after residents protested alleged manipulation of the voters’ register by NRM party agents. In Luwero District, voting at Katabona Village in Kikyusa Sub-county had also failed to start by 1:45 p.m. after disagreements over whether recently resettled residents were eligible to participate in the election.
More than 300 people were relocated from Bukasa in Wakiso District to Katabona Village after the government acquired land for the construction of an inland port. The beneficiaries began settling in the area earlier this year. The dispute arose when the new settlers turned up to vote in an election in which Sowedi Semakadde was contesting for the LCI chairperson seat against independent candidate and former LCI vice chairperson Expedito Kiyimba.
Long-time residents argued that some of the new settlers had not lived in the village long enough to qualify as eligible voters, triggering protests that prompted security agencies to intervene before election officials suspended the exercise. The incidents underscore the challenges facing the ongoing LCI elections, with disputes over candidate qualifications, voter registers and residency requirements disrupting the electoral process in several parts of the country-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
