Polling officials seek LC1 chairperson intervention to mobilise 10 witnesses
“We tried calling some residents who were going to their gardens, but when they waited for an hour without realising the required number of witnesses, they became impatient and left. It wasn't until we opted to use the LC1, who really supported us,” she said.Nabirye lamented the low turnout, saying of the 317 registered voters, 84 had voted by 2:51pm.
Mariam Byogero looking through a ballot paper for the Kagoma Town Council woman councilor at Mpungwe Health Centre A-N polling station in Jinja district on Thursday. (Credit: Jackie Nambogga)
JINJA - Polling officials at Mpungwe health centre II polling station N-Z in Kagoma town council, Jinja district on January 22, 2026, ran to LC1 village chairperson to mobilise the required 10 witnesses to oversee the commencement of the voting exercise.
Although the materials were delivered by 7:00am, Peace Nabirye, who presided over the exercise, said they waited for three hours without realising the 10 witnesses.
Nabirye said it wasn't until they went to the area LC1 chairperson Samuel Wanyange to mobilise the witnesses that voting kicked off at 10:30am.
“We tried calling some residents who were going to their gardens, but when they waited for an hour without realising the required number of witnesses, they became impatient and left. It wasn't until we opted to use the LC1, who really supported us,” she said.
Nabirye lamented the low turnout, saying of the 317 registered voters, 84 had voted by 2:51pm.
She said the women embraced the exercise more than the men.
Why low voter turnout?
Meanwhile, at Mpungwe health centre A-M, Ivan Kitaire said of the 650 registered voters, 130 had turned up by 3:00pm.
He attributed the low turnout to some voters who had returned to their home villages for presidential and parliamentary polls since the Government had announced a public holiday of two days.
“Most voters returned to their respective workplaces, and this is why we are having a record low turnout,” he said.
Meanwhile, at Nakajjo health facility polling station located at Balibona village, Nakajjo parish in Buyengo town council, only 182 had so far turned up by 3:30pm out of the 603 registered voters.
Emmanuel Kasami, who presided over the polls also told New Vision that voting began at 10:20am due to failure to realise the 10 witnesses at once.
The Jinja district LC5 race attracted four candidates: Abdurahman Mujoma of the Forum for Democratic Change, Paul Kirunda Kibbedi of the National Unity Platform, Abudallah Suuta (independent) and incumbent Moses Batwala of the National Resistance Movement.