EC Official Arrested in Alebtong Over Alleged Poll-Day Deletion of NRM Candidate

What the report says

Electoral Commission officials in Alebtong District have been accused of tampering with an LC2 election register on polling day, leading to the declaration of an opposition candidate as winner. According to Alebtong Deputy Resident District Commissioner Mathias Lutwama, the allegation centers on EC supervisors Ejang Sarah and Ouni David, who were assigned to Alanyi Parish and Abako Sub-county.

Lutwama said voters had assembled early, but the officials were later found at a private residence where the name of NRM candidate Ogwang Sam had allegedly been removed from the register. He said Onyong Richard of the UPC was then declared elected unopposed. The deputy RDC said the move triggered anger among voters, some of whom reportedly threatened protest, and he argued that the alleged deletion was done without informing the candidate or the public.

Police reportedly arrested Ouni, while Sarah was said to be at large, and the matter was recorded at Abako Police Post before transfer to Alebtong Police Station. Lutwama said the officials may have violated Electoral Commission procedures and called for investigations, noting that similar complaints had also been raised in earlier local council polls. The report comes as Uganda holds LC2 elections across thousands of parishes and wards, using a lining-up system limited to elected LC1 leaders, a process that has drawn scrutiny over administration and transparency.