An electoral officer assigned to oversee the forthcoming Local Council I (LC1) elections in Kigando Trading Centre Cell, Bugarama Ward, Bisheshe Division in Ibanda Municipality has been barred from conducting the exercise following allegations that he violated Electoral Commission (EC) guidelines.
The decision was reached during a harmonisation meeting chaired by the Ibanda District Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Suleiman Walugembe, after stakeholders raised concerns over the conduct of the village election officer, Emmanuel Byamukama.
According to the complaints presented at the meeting, Byamukama is accused of irregularly including the names of individuals who were not physically present during the voter registration exercise, contrary to Electoral Commission guidelines governing the election process.
One of the petitioners, NRM LC1 flag bearer Lawrence Muhwezi, alleged that the election officer acted under the influence of the incumbent LC1 chairperson, who is seeking re-election as an independent candidate.
"The registration process was not conducted in accordance with the Electoral Commission guidelines. Some people who never appeared in person during registration were included on the register, while others who have not lived in the village for more than two years also appeared on the list," Muhwezi said.
Muhwezi further alleged that Byamukama had a conflict of interest because he is a brother of the incumbent LC1 chairperson and had allegedly been actively campaigning for him.
"The election officer is a close relative of the incumbent and has been his chief campaigner. This raises serious concerns about impartiality and the credibility of the election process," he added.
The petitioners cited Guideline 5(b) of the Electoral Commission guidelines, which requires every eligible voter to appear in person at the designated registration centre within the village during the registration exercise. The guidelines also stipulate that a voter must have resided in the village for at least six months before qualifying for registration.
Addressing residents after the harmonisation meeting, Bisheshe Division Electoral Commission Returning Officer John-Patrick Tumuhumwire confirmed that Emmanuel Byamukama would no longer preside over the LC1 elections in Kigando Trading Centre.
"Following the concerns that were raised and discussed during the harmonisation meeting, Emmanuel Byamukama will not participate in conducting the LC1 elections in Kigando Trading Centre. The Electoral Commission remains committed to ensuring a free, fair and credible electoral process," Tumuhumwire said.
Ibanda District Deputy RDC Suleiman Walugembe urged all election officials to strictly adhere to Electoral Commission guidelines to avoid disputes and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.
"Every election official must operate within the Electoral Commission guidelines. We want a peaceful, transparent and credible election, and any action that compromises the integrity of the process will not be tolerated," Walugembe said.
According to the Electoral Commission roadmap, elections for LC1 chairpersons are scheduled for July 28, 2026, marking Uganda's first nationwide LC1 elections since 2018.
The polls are expected to usher in a new crop of village leaders amid heightened competition from political parties and independent candidates.
