By URN
At least 15 presiding officers overseeing elections in Kiryandongo District have been transferred ahead of Tuesday’s parliamentary residual election in Kibanda North Constituency, following allegations that they were siding with some of the candidates.
The most affected presiding officers are from Mutunda, Kiryandongo, and Diima sub-counties. The identities of the transferred officers have been concealed as investigations continue. They are accused of colluding with some of the parliamentary candidates contesting for the Kibanda North seat.
Rashid Musinguzi, the District Returning Officer for Kiryandongo, confirmed to Uganda Radio Network on Monday that fifteen presiding officers had been transferred to allow investigations to proceed without interference.
He says several formal complaints were lodged against the officers, adding that internal investigations by the Electoral Commission also established that some presiding officers had indeed been conniving with candidates ahead of Tuesday’s poll.
Musinguzi further warned candidates and their agents against voter bribery, stressing that the practice is criminal, illegal, and undermines the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.
He revealed that the commission has received intelligence indicating that some candidates and their agents are planning to bribe voters on polling day, cautioning that anyone found engaging in such acts will face disciplinary and legal action.
Musinguzi also appealed to candidates, their supporters, polling agents, and the general public to maintain peace before, during, and after polling day. He emphasised that political parties and independent candidates will be allowed to deploy polling agents at each polling station in accordance with electoral guidelines.
He explained that polling stations will be opened in the presence of at least ten voters, who will serve as witnesses during the opening of ballot boxes, as required by law.
Nelson Njiku, a voter from Kiryandongo Sub-County, says he is ready to exercise his constitutional right by fully participating in the voting process.
The Electoral Commission suspended voting in Kibanda North Constituency on January 15 after discovering that the name and photograph of Benjamin Lumansi, a candidate from the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue party, were missing from the ballot papers.
The Commission later set Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as the new polling date for the election of the Directly Elected Member of Parliament for the constituency.
The Kibanda North parliamentary race has attracted eight candidates: incumbent Linos Ngompek of the National Resistance Movement, William Wetaka of the Forum for Democratic Change, Rogers Arinaitwe of the National Unity Platform, Benjamin Lumansi of the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue, Zakaria Ochan of the Uganda People’s Congress, David Bagonza of the Democratic Front, Likambo Bahati (Independent), and Iddi Tabban Amin (Independent).
According to data from the Electoral Commission, the constituency has 240 polling stations. Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission is conducting intensive radio announcements to sensitise, mobilise, and create awareness among voters in Kiryandongo District, urging them to turn up in large numbers for Tuesday’s parliamentary election.
