Ugandans are voting Thursday in a general election already marred by controversies, including the late delivery of voting materials and a heavy army presence in the streets of the capital and other major towns.

Queues had already formed at most polling centres by 6.30am on Thursday after the electoral commission announced that polling will begin at 7am around the country.

But while most polling centres in hinterland districts received their voting materials in time, two districts nearest to the commission, including Wakiso district (16 km) and Kampala district, which hosts the electoral body, only received voting material well after 9am.

Voting in the two districts started after 10am, three hours after the exercise had officially begun.

Deputy spokesman of the electoral commission, Paul Bukenya, speaking shortly after 9am, explained that some logistical problems had been encountered during the delivery of materials.

“It is true that in Wakiso and Kampala the materials did not arrive in time,” he said without explaining the cause of the delay.

“We had some logistical problems, but all the same, we have sent them (voting material) and voting will start soon.”

Opposition supporters claim the delay was a ploy to give incumbent Yoweri Museveni an upper hand, as the glitches only happened in their strongholds.

“The government knows that most of the voters in the two districts belong to the opposition and they are trying to sabotage us,” Benon Mubiru, a voter, said.

With a population of more than 3 million people, Kampala and Wakiso have the biggest number of voters in the country. Both districts are known to be opposition strongholds.

Meanwhile, presidential candidate, Amama Mbabazi has complained about the deployment of soldiers on the streets of Kampala and other towns, saying it is tantamount to voter intimidation.

“There is peace all over the country,” he said. “There is no reason for deploying all those soldiers on the streets.”

Eight candidates, including Museveni, his archrival Kizza Besigye and former Prime Minister Mbabazi are vying for the presidency.
Source: The Africa Report