KAMPALA.The Electoral Commission has stood its ground ,saying it will to cancel newly created polling stations inside Namunkekera Industrial Park in Nakaseke District .
The electoral body , insists that voting on January 15 will proceed as planned despite warnings from local leaders in Nakaseke who say the location is insecure, restricted, and vulnerable to manipulation ahead of the polls .
EC officials say the Commission will issue its final decision on December 12, after reviewing a petition filed by Nakaseke leaders questioning how polling can be conducted within a fenced and heavily guarded industrial park.
Deputy EC Spokesperson Paul Bukenya said the Commission will provide guidance on how voting will be conducted safely and transparently inside the facility.
“The polling stations will not be cancelled,” Bukenya said. “Our role is to guide voters through the process, regardless of the location. Namunkekera is not the only fenced facility with polling stations.”
Nakaseke South MP Luttamaguzi Ssemakula visited the EC headquarters in Kampala to follow up on his petition challenging the establishment of the polling stations inside Namunkekera —an industrial estate linked to Gen. Salim Saleh, a younger brother of President Museveni.
As he left the EC offices, more Nakaseke leaders arrived, raising similar concerns and demanding that the Commission reverse its decision.
Luttamaguzi said he met the EC Chairperson, who told him the matter would be resolved by Friday, December 12.
“The Chairperson has assured us that a decision will be made by the 12th,” Luttamaguzi said.
“But if the Commission ignores our concerns, we shall take action. These polling stations were not created in good faith.”
He accused the Commission of dragging its feet as the election period approaches.
“We fear this delay is intentional,” he said. “We cannot accept polling stations inside a restricted industrial park. It raises suspicion.”
Bukenya also responded to concerns raised by Justice Minister Norbert Mao, who demanded tough action against those responsible for violence against National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters in Gulu City .
He said the EC cannot directly conduct such investigations.
“We do not have our own police force,” he said. “Investigations are handled by established agencies. We rely on their findings.”
Regarding complaints from NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who reported being blocked from accessing campaign venues such as Fort Portal, Bukenya urged him to file official reports.
“Kyagulanyi should formally report any obstruction,” Bukenya said. “Without formal complaints, there is little we can do.”
The EC’s reluctance to respond forcefully to incidents of campaign violence—particularly those targeting the NUP campaign—has deepened concerns about whether the Commission has the capacity or the willingness to safeguard a fair electoral process as Uganda heads toward a tense January 15 polls .