Councillor and mayoral aspirants in Mityana Municipality have expressed frustration over what they describe as the Electoral Commission’s failure to ensure a level playing field during the nomination process.
Incumbent Mayor Faustine Mukambwe Lukonge, seeking re-election, accused the Commission of favoring candidates aligned with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“We have seen NUP candidates being stopped from even wearing party-branded clothes, while NRM contenders freely appear in full party attire at nomination centers without facing any objection. This is not fairness; it is clear bias,” Mukambwe said.
He added that such practices undermine public trust in the electoral process and warned they could fuel unnecessary political tensions.
“The Commission is supposed to act impartially, with truth and fairness to all parties. Any sign of discrimination along party lines only weakens democracy,” he said.
Mityana District Returning Officer Charles Rebero dismissed the allegations, insisting the Commission remains committed to impartiality.
“Our role is to enforce the law as it is. No aspirant will be nominated unless he or she meets the requirements set by the Electoral Commission. Claims of favoritism are unfounded,” Rebero said.
Political observers note that such accusations have appeared in past electoral cycles, but stress that transparency and equal treatment of candidates are critical for a peaceful and credible election.
Several aspiring candidates have vowed to continue pressing the Commission to uphold fairness, emphasizing that all political actors, regardless of party affiliation, deserve an equal opportunity to compete.
