The Electoral Commission (EC) in Ntungamo District has attributed delays in paying some police constables deployed during the recent general elections to mismatches between their registered names and mobile money numbers.
A total of 1,624 polling constables were recruited by the District Police Commander and trained to support election activities across the district.
However, some officers recently staged demonstrations in Ntungamo Town demanding payment of their allowances, prompting police to arrest 12 protesters who remain in custody.
Charles Wafula, the Electoral Commission Returning Officer in Ntungamo, said it was incorrect to claim that personnel who participated in the elections had not been paid.
“It is not true that people worked and were not paid at all. The Electoral Commission paid for the work done during the general elections. The majority, if not all, have been paid for two rounds – presidential and LC5 elections. The round for LC3 elections is about to be released,” Wafula said.
He explained that some payments failed because the names registered with the Electoral Commission did not match those attached to the mobile numbers used to receive the money.
“Some payments bounced because the names did not match the mobile numbers registered in our system. Most numbers were in the names of brothers, mothers, or spouses,” he added.
Wafula said the commission is awaiting an e-cash report from its headquarters to identify all bounced or missed payments so that affected personnel can be compensated.
Ntungamo Resident District Commissioner Miriam Kagaiga urged the constables to remain patient as the verification process continues.
“They were appointed and worked in January and February; they were paid. The only problem is that most youth registered mobile numbers not in their names,” Kagaiga said.
She added that after receiving payments, some beneficiaries misuse the funds instead of using them for productive purposes.
While verification by the EC and the RDC’s office continues, some constables say the delays have strained their personal finances and made it difficult for them to support their families or meet basic needs.