Elections for city division chairpersons and councillors held on Tuesday have concluded amid complaints, particularly from opposition candidates.
Despite the concerns, there has been a slight increase in voter turnout compared to the recent elections for Lord Mayor and councillors.
Among notable candidates in Kampala, musician-turned-politician Ali Bukeni, popularly known as Nubian Li, decried the arrest of his polling agents in parts of Nakawa East during voting for the Nakawa Division mayoral race.
Despite the challenges, Nubian Li expressed confidence in winning the race. The National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer cast his vote at Perfect Nursery and Primary School in Tuba, Kulambiro, Nakawa Division, at around 1:00 p.m.
He later told the press that the mistreatment faced by his team mirrors what their party president, Robert Kyagulanyi, has been subjected to.
Another NUP candidate, Moses Kataabu, contesting for Kampala Central Mayorship, condemned security forces for failing to control hooligans disrupting the electoral process at some polling stations.
Speaking to the press at Rubaga Road Village, Kataabu said it was disappointing and unacceptable for security personnel to stand by as opposition supporters were mistreated.
He also cited the inadequate number of Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs), which hindered some voters from casting their ballots.
Meanwhile, in Arua City, the Electoral Commission (EC) cancelled elections for the female councillor seat in Bazaar Ward following a serious ballot paper error.
The ballot papers contained the name and photograph of a deceased candidate.
The late Samira Haruna, who had been nominated as the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate, passed away on December 5, 2025, at Arua Regional Referral Hospital after battling blood cancer.
Following her death, the EC announced fresh nominations for the affected constituencies on December 18 and 19, 2025.
In Bazaar Ward, Zabibu Alias, an Accounting graduate, was duly nominated to replace Samira Haruna as the FDC flag bearer.
However, when polling began today, the ballot papers still bore the name and photograph of the late Samira Haruna instead of Zabibu Alias, prompting the Commission to cancel the election.
The Electoral Commission deployed Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs) to verify voters, a system that had previously failed during the Presidential and Parliamentary elections held on January 15, 2026.
By Olivia Nabaggala
27th Jan 2026
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