Hundreds of residents in Masaka City are in distress after learning that their polling station has been relocated to a site over three miles away, raising fears of disenfranchisement in next year’s elections.
Voters from villages including Bbujja-Njeru, Kitovu Gate, and Kinsadde in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division have cast their ballots at the Molly and Paul polling station since 1996.
However, the Electoral Commission (EC) recently transferred them to Mukudde polling station, a decision residents say was made without prior consultation.
The new location is not only far but also difficult to access for many, particularly the elderly, who may struggle to make the journey.
Residents estimate that a round trip to Mukudde would cost at least Shs 10,000, a burden many cannot afford.
“We have always voted at Molly and Paul. Now, out of 196 registered voters, only 96 remain at the old polling station, while the rest have been moved,” said Joseph Yiga, Speaker of Nyendo-Mukungwe Division.
Many residents only discovered the changes when they went to verify their names on the voters’ register, only to find them missing.
“I walked to Molly and Paul to check my name, but it wasn’t there. That’s when we learned that we had been moved without even being informed,” said Jude Kiberu, a resident of Bbujja-Njeru. Others were unable to verify their names because they could not afford transport to the new polling station.
Local leaders in Mukudde village, where the affected residents have been reassigned, are also unhappy with the changes.
Deputy Chairperson Bull Kasozi expressed concerns that Mukudde is too small to accommodate the additional voters and fears confusion on election day if the issue is not addressed.
“This place cannot handle the additional numbers,” Kasozi said. “The Electoral Commission must act before it’s too late.”
Masaka Regional Electoral Commission Officer Apollo Musinguzi confirmed awareness of the situation and stated that they are working on a resolution.
“We are handling the matter, and the affected voters will soon be reinstated to Molly and Paul polling station,” Musinguzi assured, adding that the voter register update process in Masaka is progressing well, despite some logistical challenges.