By KT Reporter
Voting in Kawempe North faced delays this morning as several polling stations failed to meet the minimum voter threshold required to initiate the process. Despite election materials being set up by 7:30 AM, electoral officials were unable to begin voting due to a low early morning turnout.
According to electoral regulations, at least ten voters must be present to witness the sealing of election materials before polling can commence. However, many polling stations had only six to eight early voters, causing a standstill.
At Mathel Primary School, for instance, voters had to wait as the presiding officer could not proceed without the required witnesses. “I have been in line for over an hour, but I haven’t voted yet because we are not enough to open the ballot box,” a frustrated Betty Nanyanzi shared.
Peter Emorut, a commissioner at the Electoral Commission, observed similar delays across multiple polling stations. Speaking to URN, he confirmed that while all preparations were in place, voting had not yet started in most areas. However, he expressed optimism that as more voters arrived, the process would gain momentum.
Some voters attributed the low early turnout to fear, following a tense campaign period marked by security crackdowns, particularly on opposition supporters. In an interview with URN, Naoh Jjunju, the publicity secretary of Kazo-Angola, noted that many residents were hesitant to vote early due to concerns stemming from the campaign period.
He suggested that fears of potential disruptions contributed to the slow start at polling stations.
Others, like Alex Muzeyi, a resident of Bwaise, linked the delay to the election being held on a working day. “Many people first went to work. I believe they will come in later when they get free time,” he said. At Holy Family Primary School polling station in Kazo-Angola, voting had not yet started by 7:15 AM despite the presence of voters.
Election officials were still arranging materials, setting up chairs and tables, and organizing other items needed for the process. Adam Kagugube, a voter at the station, expressed frustration over the delay, stating that he had hoped to cast his ballot early before heading to work. “Despite the official start time of 7:00 AM, polling officers were still engaged in preparations instead of commencing the voting process,” he noted.
At the Clinton Junior School polling station, voting finally started at 8:00 AM after the required number of witnesses had arrived.
At Sebagala Parking Yard polling station in Sebagala Zone, voting had not started by 7:40 AM as the required ten voters had not yet gathered.
Meanwhile, some voters faced difficulties locating their names, as they were arranged alphabetically. Others were seen moving between polling stations, trying to find their correct voting locations. The delays, however, proved beneficial in some cases. At Mathel Primary School’s O to S station, a voter verification kit malfunctioned, temporarily halting the process.
A backup team from the Electoral Commission was dispatched to resolve the issue and provide an alternative kit, allowing voting to proceed. Commissioner Emorut noted that the Electoral Commission had allocated three backup kits for the 197 polling stations in the area to swiftly address any technical issues and minimize disruptions-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
