Africa-Press – Uganda. The National Coordinator of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Alice Alaso, has urged the Equal Opportunities Commission to audit polling stations across Uganda.
She raised concern over what she called systemic voter disenfranchisement, mainly affecting persons with disabilities, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.
Alaso said electoral officials often defy laws meant to protect disabled voters.
These laws allow them to be helped by someone they trust while voting.
“The law provides that a person with a disability can be assisted by someone of their choice,” Alaso stated.
“But presiding officers impose a single, often compromised person to assist all such voters.This is not only illegal it’s a recipe for cheating,”she said.
Alaso warned that such practices harm electoral integrity.
She said they also keep vulnerable groups away from participating in elections.
According to her, Uganda’s political climate has become too dangerous for already marginalised groups.
“Political participation in Uganda is one of the riskiest ventures today.If I, as an able-bodied person, feel unsafe at polling stations, imagine what it’s like for the blind, pregnant women, or persons with disabilities,”she said.
She made the comments while recounting chaos she witnessed during the Serere by-election.
Alaso also criticised what she described as the politicisation of social services.
She accused the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) of tying government benefits to party loyalty.
She argued that this tactic spreads fear and isolates opposition supporters. It makes citizens believe they must support the ruling party to access basic services.
Alaso also took aim at the government’s grip on umbrella groups representing vulnerable communities.
She claimed these groups for women, youth, and persons with disabilities are too close to the NRM.
“These structures are so controlled that even talking to the opposition feels like committing treason,” she remarked.
She said this environment makes it nearly impossible for opposition parties to engage with the groups freely. Even basic outreach becomes risky for those involved.
Alaso further called on Parliament to ban the practice of lining up behind candidates during party primaries.
She said this exposes dependents especially women and youth to pressure, coercion, and retaliation.
“Lining up forces people to show their support in public. That creates fear and discourages honest choices,” she explained.
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