Low voter turnout recorded in Lango LC5 and Mayoral Elections

By Patrick Okino

Low voter turnout has been recorded across most parts of the Lango sub-region during the Local Council Five (LC5) and mayoral elections, with many polling stations registering significantly fewer voters compared to the presidential and parliamentary elections held on January 15.

Akullu showing the number of people have voted at Numa ground in Lira City on 22nd January

Several polling stations reported fewer, while some remained completely empty. Many voters reportedly boycotted the exercise due to disappointment after their preferred candidates lost in the recently concluded elections.

“People are not there. Polling stations are empty,” said Babra Akech, the Dokolo Resident District Commissioner. “People opened their shops and continued with normal business as if there is no election. They are not interested.”

Akech said she passed through Agwata Sub-county and found residents focusing on their businesses instead of voting. “I went to one of the polling stations called Abakuli in Bata and found it empty,” she added.

Dokolo District has 252 polling stations, and according to Akech, voter turnout was extremely poor. She noted that many voters expected candidates to transport them to polling stations.

“They want to be transported, and any candidate who does that will definitely win,” she said, adding that voter turnout was high during the presidential elections because of President Yoweri Museveni’s Parish Development Model message.

At Numa Ground polling station in Lira City, which has 511 registered voters, only 44 people had voted by 1:30 p.m., compared to about 200 voters during the previous elections. Another polling station at the same venue recorded only about 50 voters out of 600 registered voters.

Presiding officer and assistant at Numa ground polling station in Lira City waiting for people.

Rajab Ocen, a presiding officer, attributed the low turnout to the perception that LC5 and mayoral elections are less important. “Most people only take presidential and parliamentary elections seriously,” he said.

Fred Ogwang, an independent candidate for Etam Sub-county councilor in Amolatar District, said voter apathy stemmed from unmet expectations. “People have not turned up in big numbers like in the presidential and parliamentary elections. Most of them felt voting again was a waste of time because their candidates lost,” he said.

James Opinya, the Parish Supervisor of Ocini Parish in Kamdini Sub-county, Oyam District, said many voters do not value LC5 elections. “People only take presidential, parliamentary, and LC1 chairperson elections seriously. For LC5, people do not bother,” he said.

Opinya added that turnout in the upcoming LC3 and councilor elections may be even lower due to negative public attitudes toward their roles in the community.

Mathias Lutwama, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Alebtong, said many people mistakenly believe that only Members of Parliament and the President matter. “They forget that LC5 leaders are at the forefront of service delivery,” he said, adding that security in the district remained calm.

Akech also reported an incident in which members allegedly affiliated with the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) assaulted National Resistance Movement (NRM) Administrative Secretary JB Otoke while he was distributing appointment letters.

She said suspects had been identified and would be arrested. “In the previous elections, the same group assaulted the bodyguard of defeated Dokolo South MP Felix Okot Ogong. This time, they assaulted Otoke. Such incidents will not be tolerated,” she said.

“UPC is known for provocation and causing violence, but this time we shall apprehend them before the day ends,” Akech added.