Residents in Isingiro District have raised serious concerns about alleged irregularities in the recent presidential elections. They claim that officials denied them the right to vote for their preferred candidates. As a result, many chose to boycott the subsequent local government elections, which led to noticeably low voter turnout across the district.
Isingiro Election Irregularities Raise Concerns
Several residents in Isingiro District have protested the alleged irregularities during the presidential elections. Many reported being turned away at polling stations or denied their right to vote for president. These issues led many to abstain from voting in the local elections, reflecting their frustration with the electoral process, which they believe was manipulated.
Voter Suppression and Manipulation Claims
Mr. Lucky Muhumuza, a resident of Kibingo Ruborogota in Isingiro West, voiced his frustration over not being able to vote for the president. He asked why residents should participate in local elections when officials had denied them the opportunity to vote for president. “We could not choose the president we wanted,” he said. Mr. Ronald Taremwa, another resident, shared how he and others faced obstacles at polling stations. “You would arrive ready to vote, only to be told the presidential election had already ended,” he explained.
Alleged Malpractice and Voter Exclusion
Ms. Dinavence Mbabazi, a resident of Kikagate Town Council, shared her experience at a polling station. She claimed that voters were only allowed to vote for Members of Parliament and not for president. “We did not choose the leaders; we were voted for,” she said. When she arrived at the polling station late, she was told the presidential election had concluded. Mbabazi also claimed that the names of deceased individuals and those who had migrated remained on the voter rolls, further raising concerns about vote manipulation.
Polling Agents Removed from Their Posts
Polling agents like Mr. John Agaba, appointed by NUP’s presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, also faced difficulties. Agaba claimed security personnel forcibly removed him from Ruyanga Polling Station, even though his name was on the register. They told him he could not serve as a polling agent because he lacked a voter’s card. “They chased me away, almost tearing my appointment letter,” Agaba recalled. His experience raised concerns about political parties’ ability to monitor elections freely.
Government Denial of Election Irregularities
The Isingiro District Resident Commissioner, Ms. Adah Nasiima, denied the claims of voter suppression. She said her office did not receive formal complaints and emphasized that all voters participated. “Where did the President get over 240,000 votes if people were denied the right to vote?” she asked. Ms. Nasiima pointed out that the low turnout in local elections was unrelated to the presidential vote. Similarly, Mr. Julius Arinaitwe, the Isingiro District Returning Officer, rejected the allegations, labeling them unsubstantiated rumors.
Election Results and National Voter Turnout
Official results from the 2026 presidential elections show that President Museveni secured 245,406 votes in Isingiro, while NUP’s Kyagulanyi received 3,994 votes. The overall voter turnout reached 52.5%, with 11,366,201 voters participating. This marked the lowest turnout since Uganda introduced multiparty elections in 1995. After the election, President Museveni expressed concern about the low turnout, citing apathy among NRM supporters. He promised to investigate the causes and work on improving mobilization efforts in future elections.
The allegations of Isingiro election irregularities have cast doubt on the integrity of the 2026 elections. Although the government denies these claims, the low voter turnout and reports of voter suppression highlight ongoing issues in the electoral process.