Voting in the long-awaited Local Council I (LC1) elections was disrupted in several areas on Tuesday, with polls suspended in parts of Kampala and Mbarara following violence, theft of election materials, and disputes over voters’ registers.
The elections, the first village leadership polls in eight years after repeated postponements, were also marked by complaints from residents whose names were missing from village registers. In Kampala, voting for the LC1 chairperson in Nalwewuuba Zone, Mulago II Ward, was cancelled after an unidentified man grabbed the village voters’ register from election officials and fled, forcing the suspension of the exercise.
According to Musa Nsubuga, the Parish Election Supervisor for Mulago II Parish, voting was completed peacefully in six of the parish’s seven zones—Bakery, Kafeero, Katale, Kiwonvu, Triangle and UEB—but chaos erupted in Nalwewuuba, prompting security intervention.
Nsubuga said the motive for stealing the register remained unclear. He added that the race initially attracted four candidates, but one later withdrew, leaving candidates from the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the National Unity Platform (NUP), and an independent candidate.
NRM candidate Andrew Kaweesi blamed the disruption on what he described as an inaccurate village register. He alleged that it contained names of non-residents while excluding genuine residents. Kaweesi also claimed that several registered residents, including the village youth chairperson, could not find their names on the register despite taking part in the registration exercise.
Residents Alex Luakaba and Diana Kayaga said they were disappointed that the election was halted before they could vote, denying the community an opportunity to elect its leaders. In Mbarara City, voting at Karugangama Cell in Mbarara City South Division was suspended after clashes between supporters of NRM candidate Japhari Mpiima and independent candidate Wilson Kafureeka.
The violence broke out after some residents attempted to force their way into the polling station, overwhelming security personnel. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) later dispersed the crowd and restored calm, while the village election officer was escorted away under heavy security after announcing the suspension of the poll.
Both Mpiima and Kafureeka accused each other of ferrying non-residents into the village to influence the outcome.
Mbarara City Electoral Administrator Violent Atuhurra said voting was suspended in Kakiika, Madela and Karugangama because of violence and disagreements among rival supporters.
Rwizi Region Police spokesperson Samson Kasasira said investigators suspect one of the candidates may have hired goons to disrupt the election, although investigations are ongoing. Election officials in Kampala also turned away dozens of residents whose names were missing from the village register.
Nsubuga explained that only residents who registered during the village registration exercise were eligible to vote, noting that appearing on the national voters’ register alone did not qualify someone to participate in the LC1 elections.
The problem extended beyond Nalwewuuba. In Katende Zone, Bukoto I Ward, election official Ann Rachael Kyogabinoe said several residents were also turned away after failing to find their names on the village register.
Elsewhere in Kampala, voting proceeded peacefully. In Masaline Zone, Bukoto I Ward, Emmanuel Kimote Mulindwa was declared unopposed after no challenger emerged.
The veteran NRM chairperson, who has led the village for more than three decades, was officially declared the winner while receiving treatment on his sickbed.
Resident Tusasirwe Aliyo said villagers unanimously retained Kimote because of his longstanding role in resolving disputes and maintaining security in the community.
The LC1 elections were the first village-level polls since 2018. Since then, elections for LC1 and LC2 leaders had been repeatedly postponed because of funding constraints, resulting in repeated extensions of the tenure of incumbent leaders-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
