Electoral Commission asked to involve voters in demarcation of polling stations

Masindi: Voters from Bwijanga Sub County in Masindi district have asked the Electoral Commission to always involve the electorates in the demarcation of the polling stations in their areas.

The request was made during a feedback meeting on the recent reorganization and demarcation of polling stations in the country by the Electoral Commission and to sensitize the citizens on electoral processes held at Kitamba Church of Uganda Primary School.

The meeting was organized by the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), a non-governmental organization.

Rogers Rwesemereza, the LC1 Chairperson for Kitamba Village, claimed that although the polling stations were demarcated, some voters’ names appeared in polling stations in other villages, which he said will affect them during elections.

He therefore asked the electoral commission to always involve the electorates in updating and demarcating the polling stations.

Tuhaire Sudat, a resident of Bwijanga, and Max Jude, a resident of Kitamba village, said that some electorates up to now don’t know where they will vote from.

Nelda Asaba Mutegeki, the FOWODE Community facilitator for Bwijanga Sub County, noted that the failure to involve the voters in the reorganization and demarcation of polling stations sees some of them miss voting since their names are transferred to other polling stations without their knowledge.

Meanwhile, women in Masindi district have cited intimidation by their husbands and the lack of money as some of the factors hindering their full participation in electoral processes.

This was during a civic engagement on electoral processes organized by FOWODE at the Kaiha trading center in Kaiha village, Bwijanga subcounty, recently.

The engagement aimed at creating awareness on and raising issues that hinder citizens’ full participation in the electoral processes ahead of the 2026 elections.

Dorothy Mbabazi, the women vice chairperson in the village, revealed that many men in the area force their wives to vote for the candidates who are not of their choice, which forces some women to shun the elections in order to protect their marriages.

Mbabazi appealed to the government to sensitize the men on the women’s rights so that they can allow them to exercise their electoral rights, including voting for candidates of their choice.

She also revealed that many women in the area lack campaign money, which prevents many from contesting in the elections.

Scovia Bagala, a resident of Kaiha, said some men intimidate their wives by sending them away from their homes if they vote for candidates they do not support.

Ayesiga Godfrey, the vice chairperson of Kaiha LC1, acknowledged that intimidation of women by their husbands is common during elections, calling for sensitization of the people on the electoral processes to enable the men to know their wives’ electoral rights in order to prevent them from intimidating them.

Isaac Musuli Milton, chairperson of the Council for Disabilities in Masindi district, has called on persons with disabilities (PWDs) to take up leadership positions in the 2026 general elections.

Milton made the appeal during a civic engagement organized by the Forum for Women in Democracy at Kimengo sub-county headquarters, emphasizing that PWDs should take up leadership beyond the affirmative positions in order to extend their horizons.

He urges this will aid persons with disabilities in combating rights violations and advocating for equal rights.

Milton also stressed the importance of voter education, urging the electoral commission to ensure that voters are well-informed to make the right choices.

Maureen Kyomuhendo, programs officer for FOWODE in Masindi district, explained that the civic engagements are part of the organization’s civic education to the communities aimed at increasing their participation in the 2026 general elections.

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