The Electoral Commission (EC) has reiterated its guidance urging voters to cast their ballots and then leave polling stations, a stance that has drawn criticism from several presidential candidates who argue that supporters should remain behind to “protect the vote.”
While addressing journalists following a closed door meeting with presidential candidates’ agents, EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama clarified that the law allows voters to stand at least 20 metres away from the polling booth. However, he noted that practical realities on the ground often make this difficult.
“The law says you can stand 20 metres from the table where the basin is, but some polling stations sit on verandas, shop fronts, or narrow roads. At times we block off roads just to create space,” Byabakama explained
He added that the guidance was issued “without ill motives.”
The dialogue came amid rising concerns over escalating violence in the ongoing campaign period. What began as a relatively peaceful season has deteriorated into clashes, injuries, and even deaths, with police deploying live bullets, tear gas, and other forceful methods.
The EC boss has urged all political actors to adhere to campaign guidelines and denounced the bloodshed.
“No election is worth the life of a Ugandan,” he said. Further calling for investigations into all violent incidents.
Candidates criticized the police, accusing them of turning elections into a “war zone.”
However, police representatives at the meeting led by AIGP Mwesigye Frank, Director of Operations defended themselves, insisting that processions are legal but must be regulated.
“Crime is crime. If a supporter commits an offence, police must act. There is no excessive force so far our role is to enforce the law,” he mentioned to journalists
On campaign conduct, the EC and police insisted that candidates may wave to supporters as they move through communities but cannot gather crowds to escort them from one venue to another. Agents were told to discourage supporters from following candidates in large numbers, which creates security concerns and road hazards.
Questions also arose about unequal treatment of different parties’ processions. Police insisted all processions are guided only after clearance.
Mwesigye said: “If you want to do a procession, inform us and we will guide you.”
Justice Byabakama further reminded candidates to respect the 6 p.m. campaign deadline, warning of sanctions.
In a move to reduce congestion, the Commission has split polling stations, raising the total to over 50,000. Each will have two biometric verification kits to speed up the process.
“We reduced voters per station to about 600 to 700 so that all processes are completed within daytime,” Byabakama said.
However, some political parties criticised the EC for failing to conduct voter education on the new systems despite the fast-approaching polling day.