KIKUUBE, Uganda — Polling is underway across Kikuube District as voters elect a new District Chairperson (LCV) in a by-election triggered by the death of chairperson-elect Peter Banura Araali, who died in a road accident on April 4 before assuming office.
Voting commenced at 7:00 a.m. across the district’s 330 polling stations, with an estimated 153,186 registered voters expected to participate in the exercise.
The contest has attracted significant political attention, with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) fielding Paddy Kisembo, while the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) is represented by Fenekansi Timanyire.
Officials from the Electoral Commission reported that polling started smoothly in most parts of the district, with voters undergoing biometric verification before casting their ballots.
Speaking during a monitoring tour of polling stations, Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama assured residents that the commission had put in place all necessary measures to guarantee a credible election.
“We are committed to ensuring that the people of Kikuube exercise their democratic right in a free, fair and transparent environment,” Byabakama said, urging voters to turn up peacefully and participate in the electoral process.
The Electoral Commission also confirmed through its official channels that polling was progressing normally across the district, with election officials deployed at all designated polling stations.
NRM candidate Paddy Kisembo cast his vote mid-morning and expressed confidence in his chances of victory.
“The response from the people has been very encouraging throughout the campaign. I am confident that the voters of Kikuube will give us a strong mandate,” Kisembo told journalists after voting.
Despite the generally peaceful atmosphere, early reports indicated relatively low voter turnout at some polling stations during the morning hours, although election officials expected numbers to increase as the day progressed.
Security personnel were deployed across the district to maintain order and safeguard the electoral process, with no major incidents reported by midday.
The by-election is being closely watched as one of the first significant local government electoral contests since the 2026 general elections, with both the NRM and NUP seeking to strengthen their influence in the oil-rich district.
Peter Banura Araali’s death in April left a leadership vacuum in Kikuube after he had been elected district chairperson but before he could be sworn into office.
Vote counting is expected to begin immediately after the close of polling, with results anticipated later in the evening.
Residents, political leaders and election observers are now awaiting the outcome of a race that will determine who takes charge of one of Uganda’s strategically important districts.