Voting for sub-county chairpersons and councillors in Mukono District began on a subdued note, with low voter turnout reported in several areas despite the timely delivery of election materials to most polling stations.
A tour of different polling centres by journalists revealed that while voting generally started peacefully, adherence to Electoral Commission (EC) guidelines was inconsistent. The EC requires that ballot boxes be opened only after at least 10 voters are present at a polling station. However, this procedure was not strictly followed everywhere, as some stations commenced voting before the minimum number of voters had assembled.
At Mukono Municipal headquarters, the voting process was delayed for nearly two hours beyond the official start time, further discouraging early participation. Eventually, Stephen Kyamagwa, a contestant for Chairperson of Mukono Central Division, cast his vote at the station. Speaking to the press afterwards, Kyamagwa shared his development priorities should he be elected, but expressed concern over the visibly low voter turnout, which he said undermined democratic participation.
Umar Ssebuyungo, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for the same position, voted at Nassuuti polling station. He attributed the poor turnout largely to the fact that many residents were at their workplaces during voting hours. Ssebuyungo called onthe government to declare local government election days as public holidays to enable workers to exercise their right to vote. He also urged private companies and institutions to allow employees time off to participate in elections.
In addition, Ssebuyungo blamed the low numbers on inadequate voter education by the Electoral Commission, saying many residents were either unaware of the elections or unclear about the importance of local government leadership. If elected, he said his administration would prioritise garbage management, strengthening security, and improving overall service delivery in Mukono Central Division.
Another contestant, Sams Baker Katende of the Democratic Front (DF), said he was ready to serve the people of Mukono, noting that his previous experience as a councillor had given him a solid understanding of how council operations work and how to effectively represent community interests.
In contrast to Mukono Municipality, Nakisunga Sub-county recorded a relatively higher voter turnout. At St. Paul Church of Uganda playground in Namuyenje, voters began lining up as early as 7:00 a.m., signalling strong community engagement. Stephen Mufuwa, the NRM candidate for Sub-county Chairperson, voted at the same venue.
Mufuwa attributed the higher turnout to sustained door-to-door mobilisation and civic education during his campaign, which he said helped residents appreciate the role of local government leadership. He pledged to prioritise the fight against land grabbing, which he described as an escalating problem in the sub-county. He also warned against attempts to disrupt the electoral process, noting that some voting machines experienced technical challenges during the exercise.
Emphasising the importance of grassroots leadership, Mufuwa said strong local governments are critical in bringing essential services closer to the people.
Back in Mukono Central Division, Susan Bogere Nsesebuse, the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate for Chairperson, voted at St. Dustan’s Church. She described the voting exercise as generally smooth but characterised by low voter turnout. Nsesebuse said her leadership would focus on youth empowerment, including establishing vocational training centres to equip young people with practical skills and address unemployment.
Another contestant, Timothy Waswa, described the low turnout as worrying, noting that only a handful of voters had turned up at several polling stations by mid-morning.
Lydia Nantumbwe, the Presiding Officer at St. Dustan’s Church, said the exercise was proceeding calmly, although the slow pace of voting was largely due to the small number of voters.
However, the otherwise peaceful process was marred by reports of violence in Goma Sub-county, where groups of youths allegedly attacked polling stations and attempted to stuff ballot papers in favour of a particular candidate. Police intervened promptly, halted the malpractice, and destroyed the illegally cast ballots.
By press time, the Electoral Commission had not yet issued an official statement regarding the reported incidents or the overall voter turnout across Mukono District.
