By Aggrey Twesigye
Elections for the Female Workers’ Councillor in Mbarara City were disrupted on Wednesday after several voters discovered their names missing from the Electoral Commission register at Kamukuzi Grounds polling station.
Voting, which was scheduled to start at 7 a.m., was delayed for several hours and only commenced around midday due to the discrepancies.
Independent candidate Jessica Mwijuka withdrew from the race, citing frustration over what she described as a disorganized process after many of her supporters were unable to vote because their names were not on the register.
Mwijuka, the incumbent Female Workers’ Councillor, was seeking re-election against NRM’s Olivia Kebirungi. She told journalists that even her own name was missing from the register and was only added on Wednesday morning.
She accused election organizers of failing to ensure a transparent and credible process, saying many of her supporters were effectively disenfranchised.
In response, Mbarara City Electoral Commission Returning Officer Violet Atuhuura acknowledged discrepancies in the workers’ register. She explained that under the Local Government Act, labour unions compile voters’ lists before submitting them to the Electoral Commission, but confirmed that the list submitted to Mbarara City had omissions.
Atuhuura advised affected candidates and voters to petition the Electoral Commission or seek legal redress in court, adding that elections for other special interest groups were proceeding without similar challenges.
