Politics
EC orders fresh voter registration in Tororo villages after failed residual polls
The directive follows the commission's decision to hold residual polls on July 29, 2026, in areas where voting had been suspended on Tuesday because of violence and disputes over the voter register. However, polling in six villages remains pending.
With the new dates set, attention in Tororo now turns to whether the fresh voter registration exercise and the rescheduled polls will proceed without further disruption. (Photo by George Ofwono)
By: George Ofwono, Journalist @New Vision
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The Electoral Commission (EC) has ordered fresh voter registration in four villages in Tororo district where LC1 elections could not be concluded due to stolen voter registers, while byelections will be held in two other villages following the deaths of the declared winners.
The directive follows the commission's decision to hold residual polls on July 29, 2026, in areas where voting had been suspended on Tuesday because of violence and disputes over the voter register. However, polling in six villages remains pending.
The affected villages are Singisi North in Sop-Sop subcounty, Amor cell in Nagongera town council, Katerema A in Osia subcounty and Ayago C in Petta subcounty, where voter registers were reportedly stolen.
The other two villages are Akidi cell in Nagongera town council and Senda A in Kirewa subcounty, where candidates who had been declared winners died a few hours after the polls closed.
To ensure residents in the affected areas are not disenfranchised, the Electoral Commission has organised fresh voter registration in the four villages where the registers were stolen. Residual polls in those villages, together with by-elections in Akidi cell and Senda A, have been scheduled for Friday, August 1, 2026.
Tororo district returning officer Caro Kiconco confirmed the new arrangements.
To ensure residents in the affected areas are not disenfranchised, the Electoral Commission has organised fresh voter registration in the four villages where the registers were stolen. Residual polls in those villages, together with by-elections in Akidi cell and Senda A, have been scheduled for Friday, August 1, 2026.
Tororo district returning officer Caro Kiconco confirmed the new arrangements.
"We're conducting fresh registration in all the villages whose registers were stolen, and after their registration, which will conclude in a few days, residual polls will be conducted on the 1st of August 2026, in those administrative units. The other villages of Senda and Ayago will also have their by-election on the same day since we lost the elected leaders the very day they were voted into office," Kiconco stated.
She appealed to residents in the affected areas to cooperate with Electoral Commission officials to ensure the exercise is completed peacefully.
"Our call is that all those eligible to vote in affected areas go and register before the 1st of August so that we can conclude the exercise without any other interference," she appealed.
With the new dates set, attention in Tororo now turns to whether the fresh voter registration exercise and the rescheduled polls will proceed without further disruption.
Under the Local Governments Act, LC1 elections are held every five years to elect village chairpersons and executive committees, who form the lowest level of local governance and service delivery.
She appealed to residents in the affected areas to cooperate with Electoral Commission officials to ensure the exercise is completed peacefully.
"Our call is that all those eligible to vote in affected areas go and register before the 1st of August so that we can conclude the exercise without any other interference," she appealed.
With the new dates set, attention in Tororo now turns to whether the fresh voter registration exercise and the rescheduled polls will proceed without further disruption.
Under the Local Governments Act, LC1 elections are held every five years to elect village chairpersons and executive committees, who form the lowest level of local governance and service delivery.