Ahead of next Thursday’s by-elections, the National Unity Platform (NUP) has expressed concern about an unusual 35,000 voter increase in Kawempe North.
NUP Secretary General Mr. Lewis David Rubongoya claims that because of a number of anomalies that were noticed in the run-up to the election, the party has temporarily suspended its campaign activities in Kawempe North.
“We expressed concerns about the accuracy of the voter register and we believe it has been inflated,” Rubongoya said. “In the 2021 elections, Kawempe North had 164,052 registered voters; however, that number has now risen to 199,342—an unusual 21% increase, or 35,000 additional voters.”
Kaziimba tells security officials to stop beating Ugandans. National Last day
Kaziimba tells security officials to stop beating Ugandans. National Last day
Mr. Rubongoya also drew attention to comparable anomalies in other by-elections, including those in Oyam and Busongola, where members of the ruling party are accused of transporting voters who do not reside in the area and manipulating voter registrations in order to sway election results. He emphasized the importance of carefully reviewing the voter registration in order to identify any possible anomalies.
On Thursday, March 06, 2025, he told the Monitor, “We have seen similar irregularities in other by-elections, like in Busongola and Oyam, where ruling party operatives move non-resident voters and manipulate voter registers to influence election outcomes.” “This trend was strongly opposed by us, and we demanded access to the voter register for careful examination.”
Mr. Rubongoya also cited cases from Kayunga, Omoro, and Oyam in which people were purportedly moved from other districts to take part in by-elections; he claimed that if the Electoral Commission doesn’t react, this practice might occur in Kawempe.
Justice Simon Byabakama, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, credited the recent voter registration and update drive for the rise in the number of voters.
He clarified, “Many Ugandans, including those living in Kawempe North, have turned 18 during this time, making them eligible to vote.”
Concerns regarding violence, specifically against NUP supporters, were also addressed by Mr. Byabakama.
“Every right-thinking Ugandan is concerned about these violent acts, not just the NUP. Especially during elections, such regrettable incidents have no place in our democratic processes,” he declared.
In reference to voter registration, Byabakama clarified that some voters chose to change their voting location during the Kawempe North by-election update process.
“A person who was living in Rubaga or Nakawa in 2021, for example, might have moved to Kawempe North since then, and the law allows them to transfer their registration to their new residence,” he continued.
In order to protect its supporters and stop election-related violence, the NUP has called on the Electoral Commission to assume complete control of the electoral process. Additionally, the party has demanded that journalists be protected and that ballots not be pre-ticked.
