By Jumah Kakomo
As Ugandans head to the polls to elect district local government councillors, district and city chairpersons, lord mayors, and councillors, a major concern has emerged: a sharp decline in voter turnout.
Trusted News visited Rubaga Division to assess the situation on the ground and spoke to Kampala’s incumbent Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, who expressed deep concern over the low voter participation. Lukwago attributed the trend to lingering challenges from the recent presidential and parliamentary elections, which he said undermined public confidence in the electoral process.
Seeking re-election as Kampala Lord Mayor, Lukwago cited what he described as the Electoral Commission’s incompetence as a key factor driving voter apathy. He pointed to delayed delivery of polling materials, police brutality, and the involvement of the military in elections as issues that discouraged voters in previous polls. He added that failures of biometric voter verification kits further eroded trust in the system.
At his polling station in Bulwa, Rubaga Division, Lukwago noted that voting began at 10:30 a.m., well past the scheduled start time. “This delay could have caused many people to lose interest in voting,” he said. Lukwago cast his vote at around 11:00 a.m.
Speaking to the media shortly after voting, he urged the Electoral Commission to safeguard the integrity of the elections and respect the will of the electorate. He warned that the low turnout reflected a broader loss of faith among citizens. “The people have lost confidence in the ballot paper,” Lukwago said, attributing the decline in trust to past electoral mismanagement.
Political analysts have also identified voter apathy as a significant contributor to the low turnout, noting that many citizens feel disillusioned by unfulfilled political promises. This growing frustration, they argue, has led to reduced engagement in the democratic process.
The contest for the Kampala Lord Mayor seat remains highly competitive. Besides Lukwago, candidates include Ronald Nsubuga Balimwezo of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Beatrice Mao of the Democratic Party (DP), Moses Kiziro of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Ibrahim Kasozi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and independents Yamulebire Jonathan and Nabirah Naggayi Ssempala.
Lukwago further observed that the low turnout mirrors patterns seen in the recent national elections, where only 52.5 percent of registered voters participated.
As results from the local government elections begin to trickle in, questions remain over whether voter apathy will continue to shape Uganda’s political landscape in the years ahead.
