What presidential candidates said after casting their votes

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The eight presidential candidates yesterday turned up at various polling stations to cast their ballots. Below is what transpired before and after they voted.

Kyagulanyi

The National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi, cast his vote at Freedom Square Polling Station near his home in Magere, Kasangati town council in Wakiso district at about 12:17pm.

Kyagulanyi, who was accompanied by his wife, Barbie Itungo, said he was confident of a positive outcome despite challenges reported across the country.

He raised concern over polling-day disruptions, security deployments and failure by the biometric verification machines to work.

At the polling station, the first voter was processed at about 10:30am, although many had arrived as early as 6:00am.

The candidate’s arrival attracted a large crowd of youthful supporters, some of whom broke into chants of “Bobi, Bobi,” prompting the office in charge of Magere Police Station to call in additional security to prevent disruption of the voting process.

Earlier in the day, Kyagulanyi addressed a press conference at his home, where he alleged widespread arrests and intimidation of his campaign team, particularly in western and northern Uganda.

He said Bright Muhumuza, the party’s mobilisation co-ordinator for western Uganda and Jolly Jackline Tukamushaba, the NUP deputy president for western Uganda, had been arrested under unclear circumstances.

“We were told our deputy president was picked up in a van known locally as a ‘drone’ and driven towards the barracks,” Kyagulanyi said, adding that several of his campaign agents were either in hiding or had been detained.

Kyagulanyi also criticised the continued internet shutdown, saying it undermined transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

He further alleged that soldiers had been deployed as presiding officers in parts of Entebbe and had taken over election management.

We could not independently verify this by press time.

The NUP presidential candidate also raised concern over what he described as persistent surveillance, alleging that drones hovered over his residence throughout Wednesday night.

Despite the concerns, Kyagulanyi urged supporters to remain calm and peaceful, and defended his call for protest voting, saying it is lawful under the Constitution.

“I am aware I may be arrested,” he said.

“But the solution is to ensure that we have many leaders, not just Kyagulanyi.”

Nathan Nandala Mafabi

Voting at Bunazoni Chosen Church polling station in Budadiri West, Sironko district, where Forum for Democratic Change presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi cast his ballot from, descended into confusion after the biometric machines failed to work.

Voters had begun arriving as early as 6:00am with hopes of voting early and returning to their daily chores.

By mid-morning, the initial enthusiasm had turned into visible anxiety and disappointment as the machines remained unresponsive. By the time the machines were finally made operational, much of the voters’ zeal had dissipated. Some voters chose to sit under nearby trees to escape the sun while waiting, while others abandoned the exercise altogether and returned home.

Mafabi casting his vote at Bunazumi Chosen Catholic Church Busamaga in Budadiri West, Sironko district

At about 11:00am, Mafabi arrived at the polling station after walking nearly 1km from his home, accompanied by his wife and other family members.

He joined the queue like other voters and waited patiently for close to an hour before his turn came. However, even his verification was not smooth.

The biometric machine failed to recognise his thumbprint after three attempts, forcing officials to verify him using his middle finger.

Although he eventually cast his vote, Mafabi expressed deep dissatisfaction with the entire exercise.

Addressing journalists after voting, he described the electoral process as a “total sham,” accusing the Electoral Commission of incompetence.

Mafabi said the commission’s chairperson, Simon Byabakama, should be held personally accountable for what he termed as systemic failures.

He criticised the procurement of what he described as prohibitively expensive yet unreliable biometric devices, questioning how such equipment could fail so widely on polling day.

Mugisha Muntu

The Alliance for National Transformation party presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. (rtd) Mugisha Muntu, voted from Kitunga Church of Uganda polling station in Kitunga parish, Kajara county, Ntungamo district.

“I arrived at Kitunga Church of Uganda polling station to vote, but I was shocked to find that there were no voting materials by 11:00am yet the dispatch vehicles left Ntungamo Electoral Commission offices at around 4:30am,” he said.

Muntu casting his ballot at Kitunga Church of Uganda polling station in Kajara county, Ntungamo district

Muntu said the voter biometric machines failed to work at his polling station, a failure he placed squarely in the hands of EC boss Byabakama.

He requested the Inspectorate of Government to probe the procurement of the biometric voter verification machines that failed to work in many areas across the country.

Muntu wondered why the EC conducted demonstrations of biometric voter verification kits in public, well knowing that they were faulty.

Mubarak Munyagwa

After casting his vote at Makerere Community Hall polling station in Kawempe division yesterday, Common Man’s Party presidential candidate Mubarak Munyagwa decried the biometric voter verification kits failure.

Munyagwa said the EC must make a proper explanation of the biometric voter verification kits failure.

“A lot of money was spent on procuring these biometric kits to no use. Therefore, the EC must account for this anomaly,” Munyagwa said.

Munyagwa showing the ink on his thumb as a sign of voting. He cast his ballot at Kikoni polling centre in Kampala

He said the widespread biometric kits failure is a clear signal that Uganda is not yet ready for the biometric voting system.

“For now, we should let the people vote by lining up because it is the perfect system for us. This practice of rushing things must stop,” Munyagwa said.

He said the biometric voter verification kits failure remains a fertile ground for the aggrieved candidates to challenge the results.

Robert Kasibante

National Peasants Party (NPP) presidential flag-bearer Robert Kasibante expressed confidence about securing a decisive victory in the presidential election, shortly after casting his vote in Mityana district amid delayed polling and heavy security deployment.

Kasibante voted at 10:30am at Kiwande village, Kakindu sub-county in Mityana district, using the biometric voter verification system.

Speaking to journalists after voting, he said he was optimistic that Ugandans had overwhelmingly endorsed his manifesto, which he said focuses on improving the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.

Kasibante casting his vote at Kiwandu in Kakindu sub-county, Mityana district

“We believe we are winning this election by a big margin, and we trust the Electoral Commission to announce the will of the people. I call upon all registered voters to fully participate in the entire electoral process,” Kasibante said.

The NPP candidate voted in a calm environment characterised by a large voter turnout and visible security presence.

Accompanied by his aides, Kasibante interacted briefly with voters before leaving the polling station.

However, voting across Mityana district generally started late, with most polling stations opening at around 10:00am, three hours behind schedule.

District electoral commission officials attributed the delays to the late delivery of voting materials, including biometric machines, to several polling centres.

Elton Joseph Mabirizi

At Conservative Party (CP) candidate Elton Joseph Mabirizi’s polling station at Kunya Grounds in Lufuka zone, Makindye-Ssabagabo municipality, voting did not start on time because of the delay in delivery of voting materials.

Voting started around 1:30pm yet some voters had turned up as early as 7:00am. Mabirizi accused the EC of deliberately frustrating the voting exercise.

“From 7:00am to 11:00am, there was no sign that voting would take place. Both polling officers, and the materials were not there. This place was not even gazetted,” he said.

Elton Joseph Mabirizi casting his vote at Kunya playground in Lufuuka zone, Makindye in Kampala

Mabirizi faulted the EC for the failures that were registered across the country.

“I have been raising concerns about the biometric machines. That is why I petitioned the Constitutional Court about these machines. We don’t trust them,” he said.

On two occasions, Mabirizi went to the polling station to vote, but he was unsuccessful due to the absence of polling officers and materials.

On the third attempt, he successfully voted amid cheers from residents, who praised him for enduring the scorching sun to vote.

After casting his vote, Mabirizi requested the EC to allow residents to vote after 4:00pm because of the challenges they faced earlier in the day.

Frank Bulira

Revolutionary People’s Party presidential candidate Frank Bulira cast his vote at Kibuye Market polling station in Rubaga division, Kampala at about 11:00am.

Polling materials were delivered on time, but the officials failed to operate the biometric voter verification machines.

The voting exercise, which was supposed to commence at 7:00am, kicked off at 11:00am after the officials resorted to using the manual register. After voting, Bulira accused the EC of negligence.

Frank Bulira, the presidential candidate representing the Revolutionary People’s Party, voting yesterday

“It is messy! At my polling station, voting started at 11:00am. I woke up at 6:30am to come and vote, but look at the time I have cast my ballot. I think the EC was not ready to handle this election. It is unfortunate that Ugandans are indirectly disenfranchised. Today, the voter turnout will be low,” he added.

Filed by Mary Karugaba, Charles Etukuri, Luke Kagiri, John Musenze, Juliet Kasirye Moses Nampala, Alfred Ochwo and John Masaba