The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, has asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to urgently relocate several polling stations from inside the Naguru–Ntinda Police Barracks, warning that their current location threatens voter access, legality, and the credibility of the election in Nakawa West Constituency.
Ssenyonyi says polling stations listed under various names on official packing lists are physically located “within the wall fence of Naguru–Ntinda Police Barracks” in Naguru II Parish.
“I have noted with concern certain polling stations which are indicated on the packing list of Nakawa West Constituency with different names, but on ground they are found within the wall fence of Naguru-Ntinda Police barracks,” Ssenyonyi wrote.
He disclosed that 18 polling stations largely labeled “Shell Grounds” are recorded as having a combined total of 12,455 registered voters, a figure he questioned given the controlled nature of a police barracks.
“These 18 polling stations are indicated to have a total of 12,455 voters. It is doubtable that this police barracks has that number of registered voters, comprised of mostly police officers and their spouses,” he stated.
Beyond voter numbers, Ssenyonyi raised concerns about access and fairness during the campaign period, alleging selective entry into the barracks.
“Throughout the campaign, only candidates belonging to the NRM political party were granted access through the gate of the fenced barracks to go and campaign,” he wrote, adding that opposition candidates were “denied access, and even threatened with arrest.”
He warned that similar restrictions on polling day could lock out polling agents and civilian voters.
“How shall our polling agents, or even some civilian voters who don’t reside in the barracks access such restricted premises on polling day?” Ssenyonyi asked.
The Leader of the Opposition anchored his concerns in both law and precedent, citing the High Court decision in Lukwago vs Electoral Commission (2010), which held that polling stations located within barracks contravene electoral laws.
Ssenyonyi also quoted Section 57(3) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which provides that voting areas for members of the security forces must be outside barracks and that the EC “shall not create any special or separate polling station exclusively for the army or any other security personnel.”
“It is therefore not proper for UPDF or Police barracks to host any polling stations because of the restricted and controlled nature of these barracks,” Ssenyonyi said.
Calling for immediate corrective action, he urged the Electoral Commission to move the polling stations before voting day.
“I therefore urge the Electoral Commission to relocate these polling stations outside the barracks before polling day, as required by law,” he wrote.
