The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has rejected the outcome of the Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election. The opposition party alleges widespread electoral malpractice and demanding accountability from the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission’s Returning Officer for Kalangala District, Ronald Agaba, declared Idah Nabayiga of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) the winner […]
The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has rejected the outcome of the Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election.
The opposition party alleges widespread electoral malpractice and demanding accountability from the Electoral Commission.
The Electoral Commission’s Returning Officer for Kalangala District, Ronald Agaba, declared Idah Nabayiga of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) the winner after she secured 12,642 votes.
According to the official declaration form, NUP candidate Irene Nampala came second with 7,474 votes, while independent candidate Sharifah Babirye polled 244 votes, Hellen Flavia Nagawa received 217 votes, and Agnes Nasuuna garnered 34 votes.
A total of 20,611 valid votes were cast. The election also registered 427 rejected ballots and 67 spoiled ballot papers, bringing the total ballots counted to 21,038.
However, shortly after the results were announced, NUP leaders challenged the credibility of the exercise.
Speaking on behalf of the party, John Mary Ssebuufu, the Head of NUP Elections for the Central Region, claimed that the election was marred by serious irregularities across a majority of polling stations.
Ssebuufu alleged that nearly 78 percent of the polling stations experienced incidents that compromised the integrity of the vote.
“We are protesting the outcome of this election because there were glaring irregularities during the voting and tallying processes. The will of the people was undermined,” Ssebuufu said.
He did not immediately provide a detailed breakdown of the alleged irregularities but indicated that the party was compiling evidence from agents and observers deployed across the island district.
On polling day, the National Unity Platform raised concerns over alleged irregularities at several polling stations in Kalangala District, accusing security personnel of interfering with the electoral process.
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said the party had received reports of disruptions, ballot stuffing and the alleged involvement of uniformed security officers at different polling centres.
Rubongoya cited Sena Playground, where he claimed voting materials were being handled outside the designated polling procedures.
“We’ve received reports from Sena playground where they’re not using even the BVK. They are just ballot stuffing at a community playground,” he alleged.
He further claimed that similar incidents occurred at Kazimalanga, and other polling stations, accusing military personnel of taking control of parts of the voting process.
The NUP Secretary General also protested the alleged blocking of opposition leader Joel Ssenyonyi from travelling to Kalangala to participate in the party’s vote protection efforts.
“He was meant to be one of the supervisors in this election. They have blocked him from accessing,” Rubongoya said.
However, security agencies denied allegations of harassment, misconduct or interference with the electoral process, maintaining that they acted within their mandate to maintain law and order during the by-election.
The Electoral Commission had not responded to the allegations by press time.
While political parties may publicly challenge election results, Uganda’s electoral laws require a formal election petition to be filed by a candidate seeking to contest the outcome in court.
This means that if NUP intends to pursue the matter legally, the petition would have to be lodged by its candidate, Irene Nampala, within the timelines prescribed under the law.
