The long-awaited Local Council one elections were marred by controversies, protests, and disruptions in several parts of Luwero and Mukono districts.
Across the country, voters gathered as early as 7:00 a.m. ahead of the scheduled voting at 11:00 a.m. However, in some villages, polling started hours behind schedule, while in others the process was disrupted altogether.
At Katabona Village in Kikyusa Sub-county, Luwero District, voting was delayed until 2:00 p.m. after residents protested against the participation of newly settled residents who had reportedly been relocated from the Bukasa Inland Port project.
The newcomers turned up to support Sowedi Semakadde, who was contesting for the LC1 chairperson seat against independent candidate and former LC1 vice chairperson Expedito Kiyimba.
Long-time residents objected to the participation of some of the new settlers, arguing that they had not lived in the village long enough to qualify as voters. The disagreement escalated into protests, disrupting the electoral process.
At Mabbale Village in Luwero Town Council, the elections also descended into chaos after alleged unverified voters joined the queue behind NRM candidate Godfrey Kakubi, angering supporters of NUP candidate Fred Musisi. The protests forced election officials to suspend the vote-counting process.
Meanwhile, at Kibanvu Village, one candidate abandoned the voting exercise and rushed to the Luwero District Returning Office to challenge the conduct of the election. A similar incident was reported in Lumu Zone, Luwero Town, where another candidate petitioned the returning officer over allegations of voter bribery.
Luwero District Returning Officer Moses Rwanks Kiconco said his office had officially registered two election-related complaints, while investigations into other reported incidents were ongoing.
Kiconco emphasized that only voters whose names appeared on the official voters’ register were eligible to participate, noting that the register had been verified by local leaders during the display exercise.
”Where you hear chaotic scenes, some people want to manipulate the elections, but I have instructed my team to stick to the register and ensure that only eligible people vote. Regarding the issue in Katabona Village, I am awaiting a report before advising accordingly,” Kiconco said.
In Mukono District, although voting began peacefully in many areas, several polling stations experienced disruptions.
At Bunakijja Village in Katosi Town Council where the race featured a long-serving incumbent, who has held the office for 30 years, against Mugabo David, formerly of the Democratic Party and now aligned with the NRM.
Tension escalated when an unidentified youth reportedly seized the voters’ register and fled with it. The situation quickly descended into chaos, with gunfire reported at the scene. Residents who had turned up to vote in high spirits fled for safety, while some reportedly sustained injuries during the commotion.
At Mukono Hill Cell in Mukono Municipality, where voting took place at Bishop East Primary School playground, the election ended in controversy after the defeated candidate rejected the results, alleging that Electoral Commission guidelines had not been followed.
The contest featured independent candidate Dickson Lukenge Nsabwa, son of the Bishop of Mukono, against NRM flag bearer Ibrah Kafeero, a cook at Bishop East Primary School.
Voting was temporarily suspended after Lukenge and his supporters accused presiding officer Sarah Ndagire of conducting the exercise improperly by calling out voters’ names from the register.
The dispute prompted Ndagire to summon Mukono Central Division Returning Officer Robert Ssekirya, who reviewed the complaints and ruled that the voting process had been properly concluded before declaring Kafeero the winner.
In another closely watched race, independent candidate James Luswata, popularly known as “Pesa,” was elected LC1 chairperson of Maternity Village in Mukono Municipality.
The NRM flag bearer, Bosco Lubega, withdrew before voting commenced, while another independent candidate, Grace Namakula, also pulled out, leaving Luswata to face Betty Asobola of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Luswata went on to defeat Asobola, securing the LC1 chairperson seat in a contest that highlighted the growing strength of independent candidates in local politics.
