Voter register display begins ahead of Kalangala Woman MP by-election

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The Electoral Commission has rolled out the display of the voter register exercise in Uganda's Kalangala district ahead of the district Woman MP by-election to replace the late Helen Nakimuli.

The register will be on display at every one of the 115 polling stations across the island district that consists of 84 islands.

As many as 44,557 voters are registered to take part in the June 24 by-election.

The Kalangala Woman MP seat fell vacant after Nakimuli, who was a National Unity Platform (NUP) member, died aged 41 on April 19 following a surgical procedure in Kampala. 

She had retained the seat in January's parliamentary elections.

Under Ugandan law, the EC has to organise a by-election following the death or resignation of a Member of Parliament.

The process to replace Nakimuli began on May 8 with a stakeholders meeting at the district headquarters, where EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama unveiled the roadmap, followed by registration and transfer of electoral centres on May 11-13.

“A total number of 217 new registrations were recorded, and 1,591 transfer requests were registered during the three-day exercise,” said Ronald Agaba, the Kalangala district returning officer. 

He said that after submission of all the new entrants and transfer of electoral centres to the EC headquarters, all the collected data was updated in the new voter register. 

“The register was returned after updates, and now the display exercise has commenced. This will last for 10 days: from 20th to 29th of May."

Agaba urged voters to check for their details at every polling centre ahead of the by-election. 

Nomination of candidates will be held on June 10-11, and campaigns on June 12-22.

Voters will got the polls on June 24 to elect their new Woman MP. Biometric Voter Verification Kits will be used for voting at all polling centres.

18 interested

For now, 14 people have expressed interest in carrying the NUP flag.

Richard Kiganda, the leading opposition party's general secretary, told New Vision that the preparations to announce a sole candidate from the 14 are underway. The party is organising a debate to select a suitable person. 

“We are optimistic that by next week, the headquarters (Makerere-Kavule) will announce the nominated candidate,” he said, urging voters to embrace the voter register display.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has stuck to its 2026 flag bearer, Aidah Nabayiga.

The other three candidates have resorted to contesting as independents: Hellen Flavia Nagawa, Lydia Nakimera and Sarah Subo. 

This means that so far, 18 women have expressed interest in the seat.