Voting halted at Kazo Junior School Mosque in Mukono amid chaos
Similar disruptions were reported in other areas, including Mpunge, Katosi, Kiwafu Tea Estate, and surrounding localities.
EC officials trying to collect the boxes which were scattered at Kazo poliing station
Elections for the Local Council Five (LC5) and mayoral positions were cancelled at the Kazo Junior School Mosque polling station in Ntenjeru–Kisoga Town Council, Mukono District, after persons said to be security operatives allegedly disrupted the process.
Witnesses reported that a group, many dressed in fatigues resembling military attire, stormed the station, forced Electoral Commission officials, security personnel, and agents of contestants into the mosque, and tampered with ballot papers.
The incident threw the voting process into disarray, forcing electoral officials to halt polling. Eyewitnesses said election materials were destroyed amid confusion and anger from residents.
Samuel Musubizi, the presiding officer at Kazo polling station receives other voting materials from the EC
Similar disruptions were reported in other areas, including Mpunge, Katosi, Kiwafu Tea Estate, and surrounding localities.
According to voters, the “raiders” chased away participants, confiscated several mobile phones, and warned that anyone attempting to take photographs or videos would be shot.
“They came and chased away voters, arrested some people together with election officials, and locked them inside the mosque. They took ballot books and started tampering with them. When they left, people became very angry,” said one voter who requested anonymity.
Presiding officer Samuel Muzusa confirmed that voting was disrupted by individuals dressed like security operatives.
“A vehicle with four officers wearing attire similar to that of the UPDF came, ordered everyone to keep quiet, seized ballot papers, and abducted another polling agent. They took about three ballot books, put them in their vehicle, and drove away. That is when chaos erupted,” Muzusa explained.
Muyanja Ssenyonga votes at Kyawambogo poliing station
It remains unclear whether the incident was formally reported to the Electoral Commission headquarters.
Former Mukono South Member of Parliament Johnson Muyanja Ssenyonga condemned the violence, saying it undermined democracy and negatively affected service delivery.
“When elections are marred by violence, it is the people who suffer because their voices are silenced,” he said.
Low voter turnout
Low voter turnout was also observed in several polling stations across Katosi Town Council. At Bwanga Winners A-L, only 62 of 347 registered voters had cast their ballots by 7:00 a.m. At Bwanga Winners NAL-Z, 93 of 487 voters had participated by the same time.
At Katosi Central A-KIR Nabuligo, about 100 of 571 registered voters had voted by mid-morning, while at Katosi Central KIS-NABJ Nabuligo, 153 of 581 voters had participated.
In Mukono Municipality, including areas such as St. Noah Mawagaali SB-Z, turnout was extremely low. Election officials reported difficulties starting the process due to failure to reach the minimum requirement of 10 voters present. Some residents also reported alleged killings, further heightening fear.
Election official Sarah Ndagire said polling staff arrived early but voters stayed away.
“We were ready, but people did not turn up,” she noted.
Some voters attributed the low turnout to inadequate voter education by the Electoral Commission, stressing that local government leaders play a crucial role in addressing community needs.
Candidates
The election featured three candidates: Johnson Muyanja Ssenyonga of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Francis Lukooya Mukome of the NRM, and independent contender Lauben Ssenyonjo