KALANGALA — Tension mounted in Kalangala District during the Woman Member of Parliament by-election after the National Unity Platform (NUP) alleged electoral malpractice, including ballot stuffing, and shared videos it claims show irregularities at some polling stations.
In statements posted on its social media platforms, the opposition party accused state actors of interfering with the electoral process, alleging that individuals were captured on video tampering with ballot papers during voting.
“The election has been heavily overshadowed by accusations of state-engineered rigging,” NUP said while sharing the footage online.
The authenticity of the videos and the allegations contained in them had not been independently verified by press time.
The claims quickly sparked debate among political supporters and election observers, with some calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations to safeguard the credibility of the electoral process.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show groups of people gathered around polling stations amid heightened security deployment. NUP officials also alleged that some of their polling agents were intimidated or prevented from effectively monitoring the voting exercise.
By press time, the Electoral Commission and the Uganda Police Force had not issued detailed responses specifically addressing the allegations raised by the opposition party.
The Kalangala by-election has drawn national attention, with both ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and opposition supporters closely monitoring the exercise because of its political significance.
Political analysts say prompt and transparent responses to complaints raised by all participating parties will be critical in maintaining public confidence in the country’s electoral processes.
