The Electoral Commission has warned individuals attempting to unlawfully participate in today’s elections for village committees representing persons with disabilities (PWDs), under the ongoing Special Interest Group (SIG) electoral process.
According to the Commission, reports and complaints have been received from various parts of the country indicating that individuals without disabilities are trying to infiltrate the elections and vote or contest in PWD committees, an act that is illegal and will be met with legal consequences.
Julius Mucunguzi, the spokesperson for the Electoral Commission, cautioned the public to respect the integrity of these elections, which are meant exclusively for persons with disabilities who are registered on the designated voters’ register.
“The Commission would like to warn and alert anybody who may be intending, or has any intentions or ideas of coming to participate in elections of village committees for persons with disabilities, and he or she is not on the register of persons with disabilities, to desist from doing so,” Mucunguzi said in a statement.
“Any attempt to try to come out and participate in elections of persons with disabilities when you are not on the register is an offence, and you will be dealt with according to the laws of the land,” he added.
Today’s village-level PWD elections are part of the broader Special Interest Group electoral calendar and are being conducted using the lining-up method.
Voters are expected to line up behind their preferred candidates, agents, portraits, or approved symbols. Positions being contested include Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Publicity Secretary, and Treasurer.
Mucunguzi called on all eligible PWD voters, Ugandan citizens aged 18 and above, who are registered both on the national voters register and the PWD register, to participate actively and help form the representative leadership structures at the grassroots.
“We call upon all those who are citizens 18 years and above and on the national voters register and on the voters register for persons with disabilities to come out in their numbers and make sure that they participate in constituting the committees at the village level today,” he urged.
The Commission emphasised that any unauthorised involvement in these elections undermines not only the legal framework but also the representation and voice of persons with disabilities in national governance.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over the manipulation of SIG processes and highlights the need for vigilance in ensuring that only qualified and registered individuals take part in these specialised electoral exercises.
A few weeks ago, the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) raised concerns about individuals without disabilities masquerading as persons with disabilities to fraudulently participate in Special Interest Group (SIG) elections.
The organisation called on the Electoral Commission to take immediate action to prevent such abuse and protect the integrity of the electoral process reserved for persons with disabilities.
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