The Electoral Commission (EC) has suspended voting for the LC III Chairperson seat in Bulindi Town Council, Hoima District, after ballot papers delivered to the area were found to contain names and photographs of candidates not nominated for the race. The Bulindi Town Council LC III contest had attracted three candidates: Robert Ayebale, an Independent; Moses Kajura of the National Resistance Movement (NRM); and Hannington Sunday, also an Independent.
However, on Wednesday morning, polling officials discovered anomalies while verifying voting materials for the Bulindi LC III race. The ballot papers bore names and photographs of candidates who were neither nominated nor registered voters in Bulindi Town Council. Officials further noted that the ballot papers listed four candidates, yet only three were legally nominated by the EC.
The names appearing on the ballot papers were Patrick Abola, Yakobo Sabino, Charles Obete Oryem, and Aldon Richard Kamuhara—individuals who are not registered voters in Bulindi Town Council. The discovery caused panic among candidates, their agents, and supporters at the affected polling stations.
Hassan Takwana, the Hoima District Returning Officer, said the irregularity was detected immediately after opening and verifying the ballot papers allocated to the town council. He said the matter was reported to EC headquarters, which directed that voting for the position be suspended. Takwana added that the Commission will announce a new polling date in due course.
He clarified that voting for other elective positions across the district is proceeding normally and appealed to candidates, supporters, polling agents, and the general public to remain calm and peaceful before, during, and after the polling period.
Moses Kajura, the NRM flag bearer for the Bulindi LC III seat, said he was shocked when he arrived at the polling station only to find that his name and photograph were missing from the ballot papers.Meanwhile, Rose Alinaitwe, a voter in Bulindi Town Council, said she woke up early to cast her vote but was surprised to find that none of the legitimate candidates appeared on the ballot papers. Instead, she said, names of people unfamiliar to voters in the area were listed.
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