Police in Mityana District have arrested two Electoral Commission (EC) staff members and a civilian over alleged neglect of duty and unlawful possession of government electoral materials, as authorities heighten scrutiny ahead of the 2026 general elections.
According to the Wamala Region Police spokesperson, SSP Lameck Kigozi, the arrests followed intelligence received on January 4, 2026, by the Mityana District Police Commander, SP Tyson Rutambika, indicating that a man was unlawfully issuing voter location slips in Kibati, Buswabulongo, within Mityana Municipality.
“The intelligence indicated that a civilian was in possession of voter location slips and official issuance forms, which raised immediate suspicion,” SSP Kigozi said, noting that electoral-related intelligence is treated with urgency due to the sensitivity of the period.
Police alerted the District Returning Officer, who joined an investigative team led by Detective Assistant Inspector of Police Juma Godfrey to track down the suspect.
The team arrested Matovu Micheal, a student at Mityana Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, who was found in possession of 862 voter location slips and 83 official issuance forms. He was taken to Mityana Central Police Station for interrogation.
During questioning, Matovu reportedly admitted that he had been irregularly assigned to distribute the voter location slips by his brother, Kazibwe Sunday Godfrey, an Electoral Commission supervisor for Bulera Subcounty.
He further alleged that the assignment was carried out with the knowledge of Kasaana Fred, another EC supervisor responsible for Misebe Parish in Bulera Subcounty.
Police subsequently arrested Kazibwe and Kasaana. The two EC officials face charges of neglect of duty and failure to protect government stores.
Matovu, meanwhile, has been charged with unlawful possession of government stores, relating to the recovered voter location slips and issuance forms.
Police expressed concern over the incident and warned both the public and EC staff against interfering with electoral processes.
“We strongly caution the public against meddling in Electoral Commission work, especially at such a crucial stage when every action is under national scrutiny,” SSP Kigozi said.
“Electoral Commission staff must perform their duties with professionalism to avoid irregularities that can undermine public trust.”
He urged members of the public to continue reporting suspicious activity to enable swift police action.
The arrests come as Uganda enters a politically sensitive period ahead of the 2026 general elections, with authorities emphasising that strict control of electoral materials is essential to safeguarding the integrity of the voting process.
Police say they will continue monitoring all election-related activities and take action against anyone found compromising the electoral system.
