KALANGALA – The Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election was overshadowed by allegations of political interference, voter intimidation, and electoral malpractice, with opposition leaders claiming they were blocked from accessing the district as polling and vote counting got underway on Wednesday.
The by-election was held to fill the seat left vacant following the death of former Woman MP Hellen Nakimuli. The race featured National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Irene Nampala, National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer Aidah Nabayiga, and three independent candidates.
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and NUP spokesperson, Joel Ssenyonyi, alleged that authorities prevented him from reaching Kalangala to supervise his party’s election activities.
In a series of posts on social media platform X, Ssenyonyi said he was delayed for several hours at Bukakata Landing Site after ferry operators reportedly received instructions not to transport him to the island district.
“I’ve been seated on the ferry meant to go to Kalangala from Bukakata for close to two hours, but it has not set off. I’m told there’s been an instruction not to set off because there is no ‘clearance’ yet for me to proceed to Kalangala,” Ssenyonyi posted.
He later claimed that after boarding another ferry, the vessel was instructed to turn back midway across Lake Victoria because he was on board.
“Apparently, the ferries will not move to Kalangala for as long as I’m on board,” he wrote, adding that he eventually disembarked to allow other stranded passengers to continue their journey.
Ssenyonyi also alleged that NUP had received reports of unmarked vehicles moving around polling stations and claims of ballot stuffing, though these allegations had not been independently verified by press time.
The opposition party further reported incidents of arrests and alleged military deployment at some polling stations, including Bwendero and Buyiri, raising concerns about the conduct of the election.
However, election officials maintained that the voting process was generally peaceful. The Electoral Commission said polling proceeded smoothly across the district, while NRM leaders expressed confidence that their candidate would emerge victorious.
As vote tallying continued, opposition leaders urged their polling agents not to sign declaration forms where they believed irregularities had occurred.
The Kalangala Woman MP by-election attracted national attention due to its strategic political significance and the growing contest between the ruling NRM and opposition forces in island communities.
By press time, official results had not yet been announced by the Electoral Commission.