ALEBTONG, Uganda – Electoral Commission officials in Alebtong District have been arrested over allegations of illegally deleting an NRM candidate’s name from the voters’ register on polling day and unlawfully declaring an opposition candidate winner, in a scandal that has sparked protests and raised fresh concerns about the credibility of Uganda’s ongoing local government elections.
Police have confirmed the arrest of Ouni David, the Electoral Commission supervisor for Abako Sub-county, who is currently being transferred to Alebtong Police Station as investigations continue. His colleague, Ejang Sarah, the EC supervisor for Alanyi Parish, remains at large, according to authorities.
The allegations were made public by Alebtong Deputy Resident District Commissioner Mathias Lutwama in an interview on Monday, August 10, 2026. Lutwama said the two supervisors were reportedly absent from their polling stations when voters gathered as early as 7:00am.
“By about 10:30am, the two supervisors were nowhere to be seen. They were later found together at a private residence where Ogwang Sam’s name had allegedly been removed from the candidates’ register, and Onyong Richard, a UPC candidate, was declared elected unopposed,” Lutwama told this reporter.
The Deputy RDC said the alleged removal of the NRM candidate’s name was carried out without informing either Ogwang or the voters who had assembled to participate in the election. The development triggered protests, with some voters threatening to riot over what they described as an unfair and unlawful electoral process.
Lutwama ordered Ouni’s arrest on charges including negligence of duty and fleeing with election materials. Police have recorded the matter at Abako Police Post under SD Ref. 10/10/08/2026.
“Deleting a candidate from the register on polling day and declaring another candidate from a private residence contravenes Electoral Commission regulations,” Lutwama stated.
The Deputy RDC further alleged that similar incidents involving the deregistration of NRM candidates had been reported during the LC1 and women’s council elections, and called for thorough investigations into the conduct of the officials involved.
The arrests come as Uganda conducts LC2 elections across 10,718 parishes and wards nationwide. Unlike general elections, voting in these polls is restricted to members of the newly elected LC1 executive committees, rather than ordinary residents. Voters are using the traditional lining-up system to indicate their preferred candidates.
These elections follow the July 23 village women’s committee polls and the July 28 LC1 chairperson and executive committee elections.
Efforts to reach the Electoral Commission for comment on the allegations were unsuccessful by press time.
