Overview:
Haruna had initially been nominated by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) before her death. The party later nominated Zabibu Alias as her replacement, but the latest batch of ballot papers was not updated, repeating the previous irregularity.
The election for Women Councillor of Bazaar Ward in Arua City has been cancelled for a second time after ballot papers were found to contain errors, featuring the name and photograph of the late Samira Haruna instead of her replacement, Zabibu Alias.
Haruna had initially been nominated by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) before her death. The party later nominated Zabibu Alias as her replacement, but the latest batch of ballot papers was not updated, repeating the previous irregularity.
Originally scheduled for January 27, 2026, and later rescheduled for February 17, 2026, this cancellation has further frustrated both candidates: incumbent Zuria Adukudua Gutru of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and FDC’s Zabibu Alias.
By 8:00 AM on Tuesday, after polling stations opened, officials identified the same ballot error, prompting the commission to halt the election across all 18 polling stations in Bazaar Ward. Arua City Returning Officer, Oshman Ezale, confirmed to Uganda Radio Network that the election has been cancelled and tentatively rescheduled for February 26, 2026, pending final confirmation from the Electoral Commission.
At several polling stations, area election supervisors informed polling officials of the cancellation before voting began. At Old Bus Park Cell, Hamza Musa Mursali, the presiding officer for O-Z polling station, said they were notified by the area supervisor before opening the ballots, despite officials reporting for duty at 7:00 AM as required by election guidelines.
The situation became tense at some polling stations after security personnel were withdrawn, leaving election materials in the hands of polling officials. Some voters became rowdy amid the confusion, demanding that the materials be guarded until they reached the Electoral Commission offices.
Voter turnout was generally very low across all 18 polling stations, with many failing to meet the minimum requirement of 10 registered voters and candidates’ agents to witness the opening of polling materials. Bazaar Ward has a total of 8,918 registered voters.
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