By Mulengera Reporters
The Electoral Commission (EC) on Wednesday conducted elections for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Village Committees across the country, in the second phase of the Special Interest Group (SIG) elections under the 2025/2026 General Elections roadmap.
The exercise, held in more than 70,000 villages, targeted eligible PWD voters, those registered both in the National Voters Register and on their respective PWD Village Registers. Voters elected five leaders per village including Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Publicity Secretary, and Treasurer.
However, the otherwise peaceful process came with a firm warning from EC over attempts by unqualified individuals to fraudulently take part in the PWD elections.
According to EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi, the Commission received reports from across the country, including from the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), that some non-disabled persons had attempted to participate either as candidates or voters.
Mucunguzi said such actions are a clear violation of the law and will be dealt with decisively. “Only persons registered as PWDs are permitted to take part. Any attempt to infiltrate the process will attract legal consequences,” he said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
In previous elections, particularly during the 2021 SIG cycle, NUDIPU and other civil society organizations raised concerns over able-bodied individuals fraudulently registering as PWDs in order to contest or influence elections.
A report published in 2022 by NUDIPU cited documented cases in Luwero, Kibale, Kayunga, and Hoima where able-bodied persons were elected to PWD positions after misrepresenting their status.
To counter such incidents, the EC this year tightened its verification guidelines, requiring polling officials to crosscheck the PWD Register alongside physical identification of voters. Security officers and district supervisors were deployed to support enforcement, with a focus on preventing impersonation.
Despite the concerns, the majority of polling stations reported smooth conduct of the elections. In areas like Butaleja, Soroti, Kiryandongo, and Bushenyi, voters turned up steadily, with community volunteers assisting the visually impaired and those with mobility difficulties. At one polling station in Kitgum Municipality, election officials reported a 76% turnout by mid-day.
The elections were conducted using the lining-up method, as provided under the Local Government Act. Voters lined up behind their preferred candidates, or their symbols or representatives, in full view of polling officials and observers.
Wednesday’s polls follow Monday’s successful Older Persons Committee elections, and will be followed by the Youth SIG elections on June 24 and the Women Committees on June 27.
The Electoral Commission has insisted that the SIG elections are not mere formalities but are foundational to ensuring grassroots participation and inclusive governance in the country’s broader electoral process.
As the roadmap unfolds, the EC appears determined to maintain order, build public trust, and guard against abuses that have tainted previous exercises. With vigilance from both officials and voters, the 2025/26 elections could mark a new chapter in clean, inclusive, and community-led democracy. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
