Africa-Press – Uganda. Nominations for district chairpersons and councillors began in Ntungamo District with a notable early turnout, as many aspirants chose to contest as independents rather than under political party banners.
Latif Ngozi, Ntungamo District Returning Officer, said frustrations with party primaries have driven candidates to seek alternative routes, with the Electoral Commission providing assurances of a free and fair process.
“Most of our candidates have faced harsh conditions in party primaries. They are looking at the Electoral Commission as the solution, and we are assuring them that everything will be free and fair,” Latif said.
Ntungamo, which has 315,037 registered voters, has increased its polling stations from 481 to 758 to ensure manageable numbers and smoother voter verification.
“We were told that no polling station should have more than 600 voters. Any station exceeding this number has been split. We shall use biometric voter verification machines at every polling station,” he explained.
Ngozi emphasized that the new systems will eliminate irregularities and enhance credibility, particularly during nominations.
“The Electoral Commission is not the usual one. If you come with a forged NIN, the system will reject it. Every supporter you bring must be entered into the system,” he noted.
Ntungamo, with 34 sub-counties, is already witnessing a significant number of candidates opting to run as independents.
“The independent numbers are high compared to those under party tickets,” Latif observed, stressing the commission’s focus on transparency, which is giving confidence to candidates who felt disadvantaged by internal party processes.
With biometric verification, tighter oversight, enhanced security, and the growing wave of independents, Ntungamo’s upcoming elections are shaping up as a critical test of fairness and transparency at the district level.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
