UGANDA ELECTIONS: EC halts voting in Ibanda Municipality, Kibanda North over ballot errors
Following the discovery, the EC officials instructed voters to continue polling for other elective positions, including the presidency, but to skip the Kibanda North parliamentary race until further notice.
The Electoral Commission (EC) yesterday, Thursday January 15, 2026, suspended voting for the directly elected MPs in Ibanda Municipality and Kibanda North County in Kiryandongo district following serious errors on the ballot papers in both constituencies.
In Ibanda Municipality, polling was halted after a candidate reported a mismatch between his approved symbol and the one printed on the ballot paper. In Kibanda North, voting was stopped after it emerged that the name of a duly nominated parliamentary candidate was missing entirely from the ballot.
Ibanda Municipality
In Ibanda Municipality, Rashid Muganda, an independent candidate, raised concerns that the symbol (a ball) he had officially submitted, had been replaced with a megaphone on the ballot paper.
Muganda reported the matter to the district returning officer, who in turn sought guidance from the EC. Following consultations, EC officials directed that polling for the parliamentary race be suspended until further notice.
Other candidates contesting for the Ibanda Municipality seat include Peter Agaba (NRM), Innocent Mwine Bakamuhara (independent) and Sarapio Betungura (independent).
Kibanda North
In Kibanda North, the EC halted voting after discovering that Benjamin Lumansi, the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue party candidate, was missing from the ballot paper, despite having been duly nominated.
“I am surprised that my name and photo are not on the ballot, yet I was fully nominated,” Lumansi said. He said he was awaiting guidance from the EC before advising his supporters.
Following the discovery, the EC officials instructed voters to continue polling for other elective positions, including the presidency, but to skip the Kibanda North parliamentary race until further notice.
The Kibanda North parliamentary contest had attracted eight candidates.
Those listed on the ballot include Roger Alinaitwe (NUP), David Bagonza Bihemaisso (Democratic Front) and Taylor Likambo Bahti (independent).
Others are Linos Ngompek(NRM), Zechariah Ochan (Uganda People’s Congress), Idi Amin Taban (independent) and William Wataka (Forum for Democratic Change).
EC Response
EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama confirmed last evening that voting had been suspended in the two constituencies.
“The commission will organise new polling dates for these constituencies.
We appeal to the voters to remain calm,” Byabakama said.
Rashid Musinguzi, the Kiryandongo district returning officer, acknowledged the omission in Kibanda North, describing it as an administrative error.
“We accept the mistake and are engaging all stakeholders to resolve the matter. A decision will be communicated after consultations,” Musinguzi said.
By press time, the EC had convened a crisis meeting involving the affected candidate and other parliamentary contestants.
This was aimed aimed at determining the way forward, as voting for other positions continued.
Filed by John Odyek, Timothy Mushabe and Yosam Gucwaki