By KT Reporter
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries for LC5 chairpersons, mayors, and local councilors kicked off on Thursday with tight security, timely delivery of election materials, but notably lower voter turnout compared to last week’s parliamentary primaries.
By 9:00 a.m., most villages had received election materials and were preparing to begin the day’s process. However, unlike the parliamentary primaries where several areas saw a surge of voters early in the day, Thursday’s exercise drew thinner crowds at many polling stations in its early hours.
In some areas, turnout improved slightly later in the morning, but overall participation remained visibly lower than during the previous round of parliamentary voting. Security forces maintained a strong presence in several hotspots where tensions were anticipated. Both Uganda Police and UPDF soldiers were heavily deployed in areas expected to witness stiff competition, ensuring calm and order throughout the process.
In Wakiso District, the contest for the LC5 chairperson seat drew early attention. Former chairperson Ian Kyeyune is attempting a political comeback and is facing off against Bujasi Hussein Musoke and Patrick Nakabale. In parts of Nansana Municipality, a few enthusiastic groups had gathered by 7:00 a.m., waving posters and awaiting the start of activities. However, even here, the numbers were more subdued than seen in the parliamentary primaries.
Our reporter who visited several polling stations in Kampala Central, including William Street, Wilson Street, Bat Valley, Kamwokya KCCA, Market, and Kisenyi observed that by press time, neither polling agents nor electoral officials had arrived at most locations. At William Street, the designated polling station for Musoke Nagenda, a contestant for the NRM Kampala Lord Mayor flag and current chairperson of the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), the situation was no different. Only police officers were present at the scene, with no sign of election staff or party agents.
In Kawempe North, the low turnout was attributed to low voter sensitisation and mobilisation.
At Kawempe Mbogo polling station, there was a low voter turnout, despite having more than 900 voters in the register. Here, a few people participated in the election and by 11:30 am, elections in some of the polling stations had closed.
Several voters were seen coming minutes late after the elections had been completed. Despite the low turnout, the Police were seen patrolling the area.
Lukolokomba Kasim, an agent of Ssaava Mayanja, aspiring for the lord councillor, said that most voters had come on time, but the election officials arrived late.
Lukolokomba also mentioned that most voters were not mobilised and that many of them were not aware of the ongoing election process.
At Kacungwa polling station in Kanyanya Komamboga, by press time, no voters had arrived, and voting materials had not yet been delivered. The situation was the same at Holy Family polling station in Corner Zone, Kawempe.
The LCI Chairperson, doubling as the NRM chairman of Kawempe Mbogo, Lule Muhammad Kagubaala, said that the NRM EC should bring the voting time of elections to the early hours of 8:00 am so that people can vote and then go to work.
In Luwero district, Osuman Lubega Basajjanaku, the NRM District Registrar, said the election materials, which included registers, declaration forms, pens, and others, have been successfully delivered to 624 villages in the district. “We first sent the materials to Makulubita sub-county and others that experienced a delay in the MP primaries. Right now, I can authoritatively state all polling stations have the materials to conduct the polls,” Lubega said.
The LC 5 Chairman primaries attracted four candidates that including Ramathan Katitira, Dithan Kikabi Mayanja, Amina Nalubega, and Rashidah Birungi. In Nakaseke, Paul Tandeka, the District NRM Registrar, also confirmed that the materials have been delivered and elections will begin on time. In Nakaseke, the fight is between incumbent LC 5 Chairman Ignatius Koomu Kiwanuka, Wasswa Taddeo Ziritwawula, the former LC 3 Chairperson of Ngoma town council and Charles Mwebaze.
The Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson, Sam Twiineamazima, said the Police, backed by UPDF soldiers, have already been deployed across the Polling stations to ensure polls are peaceful. By the time the story was submitted, there were no voters who had arrived at polling stations across the districts.
In Kabale District, the NRM primaries for local government positions began sluggishly, with several polling stations showing minimal voter presence and no sign of polling officials by mid-morning.
At 9:40 a.m., a URN reporter visited the Central-Central Village polling station located at Kabale Stadium and found only one voter present, John Nankunda, who was holding campaign posters for Sam Arineitwe, a candidate contesting for the Kabale Municipality Mayor seat.
Despite being alone at the station, Nankunda remained optimistic, saying he believed polling officials would eventually arrive since there was still time left in the day. He expressed hope for a peaceful election but predicted a significantly lower turnout compared to the recent parliamentary primaries.
“Many people don’t give much priority to local government elections,” Nankunda noted. A similar situation was observed at the Central East polling station near the old Kabale Police Station, where only one voter, Jacqueline Tumwiine, had turned up by 9:50 a.m. She expressed concern over the low voter interest, saying several people she spoke to had shown little enthusiasm for participating in the day’s exercise. No polling officials were present at that location either.
At Kabale Parents Primary School polling station, also in Central Division, the situation was slightly more active. A URN reporter found one polling official and about six voters waiting. The official, who declined to be named, said they were waiting for more people to arrive before officially beginning the voting process. Arua City also mirrored the slow pace seen in other parts of the country, with several polling stations experiencing low turnout and, in some cases, no voters at all in the early hours.
By 9:00 a.m., officials at the Arua City NRM office were still sorting voter registers, as polling agents and election officers waited idly for deployment. At least three polling stations visited by URN had yet to receive a single voter. At one polling station in Driwala Ward, a nearby resident expressed disinterest in the elections, saying he saw no personal relevance in participating.
The mood in the city remained calm, with overcast skies and chilly weather likely contributing to the low early turnout, as many residents stayed indoors. Meanwhile, security preparations continued as personnel from the Arua City Metropolitan Police were seen conducting a morning parade before heading out to polling centres.
The Arua City mayoral race has attracted notable contenders, including incumbent Sam Wadribo Nyakua and Lawrence Dangote, a former Makerere Guild President. In Arua Central Division, the contest is between former Municipality Mayor Charles Asiki and newcomer Said Baguma, while in Ayivu West, the incumbent Marlon Avutia remains unopposed.
By 10:30 am, most polling stations across Lira City were empty. No voting materials, polling agents, or voters were on site, although many had chairs arranged. In Hoima, there is a heavy deployment of both anti-riot police and military personnel ahead of today’s NRM party primary elections. Security forces are visibly stationed in the city centre, while others are patrolling villages across Hoima District.
Albertine Region police spokesperson Julius Hakiza says the deployment is intended to guarantee a peaceful, free, and fair election. He urged voters not to feel intimidated, assuring them that the security presence is purely to maintain order.
Hakiza has appealed to voters to exhibit a high degree of discipline, urging them to desist from any form of political violence.
He tasked the candidates to follow all the set election guidelines, noting that any chaos caused by candidates would not be tolerated.
Sarah Kobuginge, the NRM Registrar for Hoima city, says their election officials are more than ready to conduct the exercise at all levels, adding that the officials have undergone thorough training to ensure that they handle the elections successfully.
Despite the tension in some areas, the process appeared orderly in the early hours, with both security and electoral officials closely monitoring developments. Results from the primaries are expected later in the evening as tallying gets underway in respective districts.
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