LIVE TEXT: Uganda elections update

DP's Norbert Mao after voting at Holy Rosary Primary School polling station A at 2: 45 PM on Friday. Photo by James Eriku.

What you need to know:

Welcome to the Daily Monitor Live Text on the 2011 General Election in Uganda. Our online team and field reporters across the country will provide you with round the clock updates on all events taking place throughout voting day and the days that follow. Also follow us on our Twitter and Facebook accounts: -

2220 EAT: Strong wind blows off ballot papers in Nwoya. Several ballot papers could have gone missing at two polling stations in Nwoya District after strong winds swept across and blew them off this afternoon. The affected polling stations are Coo-rom in Koch Goma Sub County and Kulu-Amuka in Anaka Town Council.
The District Electoral Commission Registrar, Osman Ezale, said the problem stemmed from improper sealing by his officials at the two polling stations. He however said they managed to recover all the swept ticked ballot papers from nearby bushes although the Daily Monitor could not verify the claims. “We didn’t expect the wind to destabilise us to that extent but we managed to recover the ballot papers from nearby bushes.”

2111 EAT: The Opposition FDC has released a statement regarding alleged electoral fraud.

“There is growing evidence that today’s election has been very flawed and violent. The election process as has been witnessed has been characterised by electoral flaws. [There has been] mass rigging for the president, including ballot papers availed to us by someone who was paid to stuff the box

At 3pm today, a resident of Kampala [came to] the FDC HQ, bringing with him 17 ballot papers, which he had been given by NRM and was paid to stuff them into the ballot box when he cast his own vote. The ballot papers were all marked with votes for Museveni.

EU International Observers were called and shown the ballot papers and spoke to the resident. He advised the Observers that many people had been paid to do the same thing with the ballots being handed out at a location near the National Theatre. The ballot papers were shown to the EU Observers.

The EU Observer who met the resident and saw the ballots is Mr Manuel Wally. +256 0772 709680 / [email protected]

The ballot papers will be presented by FDC to the Electoral Commission to enable them to investigate.”

2055 EAT: Kampala City Centre is deserted in the early evening hours as both military police and army deployed heavily soon after elections closed. All the major roads in the centre, the suburbs of Nakawa and Makindye divisions are all under close surveillance with foot and mobile military patrols.

1959 EAT: Isaac Imaka reports that Electoral Commission Chairman, Eng. Badru Kiggundu, says sorry for election hiccups, arguing that Uganda is a growing democracy. Eng. Kiggundu was making his opening remarks before briefing journalists and election observers about the vote tallying process at the EC national vote tallying centre at Namboole Stadium on the outskirts of Kampala.

1952 EAT: The European Union observers have expressed their disappointment at the general election process saying there was lack of training of the electorate. “The impression is that the process is not systematic. The presiding officers have had poor planning and lack of training. The basic things like seals have been forgotten and not used. Some voters are not on the list and you don’t know whether they will find their names where they have been referred,” said the EU chief observer, Mr Edward Scicluna in Bugiri district. Mr Scicluna said out of the five polling stations visited in three districts; Kampala, Gulu and Bugiri, they observed that the ballot boxes at three polling stations were not sealed yet voters were already casting their votes.

1950 EAT: A Forum for Democratic Change monitoring agent in Gulu District was earlier today arrested for allegedly breaking the electoral laws. Mr Onen Godfrey, an FDC monitoring agent was arrested at Wii aworanga P7 School, Gulu, at 11:15am for allegedly campaigning at the station. However, he denies the accusations.

1942 EAT: Emmanuel Mulondo reports that election observers have recovered 19 ballot papers from Kitante near CMI offices. 16 of the 19 ballot papers were ticked in favour of NRM candidate Yoweri Museveni. They were part of a bigger bunch of ballot papers that had been given to several people who were allegedly paid to do ballot stuffing. The observers have taken down the names and contacts of the would be ballot stuffers. According to them, they were given the ballot papers by electoral commission employees whothey say they can identify.

1812 EAT: David Mafabi reports from Mbale that Sironko DPC Gerald Mbata is fighting for his life at Mbale regional referral hospital after he was thoroughly beaten by enraged supporters of FDC MP Nathan Nandala Mafabi. The opposition supporters were angry with Mr Mbata after he reportedly ignored their pleas for security. The supporters who had been tortured by armed soldiers moved to meet the DPC who reportedly drove away from them. Some enraged supporters later waylaid the DPC, disarmed his escorts while others fled for their lives as civilians pounded the police officer. According to Dr Barnabas Lubanza, the DPC’s condition was not so good as he sustained deep cuts in the head. He suspects the skull was affected.The Doctor also said they were going to do X-rays to ascertain the extent of the damage.

1800 EAT: IPC Chairman, John Ken Lukyamuzi and his FDC counterpart Sam Njuba are scheduled to address a press conference at 6pm to brief journalists on their perceptions of the day’s developments. IPC Spokesperson, Margaret Wokuri, says as the polls wind up, there are a lot of anomallies that have characterised the day. The opposition politicians are expected to speak about this. Details to follow...

1758 EAT: Okumu Livingstone reports that hundreds of voters in Omoro county in Gulu failed to cast their ballots as their names were missing on the final EC voter roll at several polling stations in Odek sub-county, home of LRA leader Joseph Kony. The affected stations included Bar-Olam parish with four centres, Binya parish with three polling stations and Acet with one. Awere polling station, also in Odek, had several voters turned away as they had only photographs without names against them in the voter register

1756 EAT: Al-mahdi Ssenkabirwa reports that a Woman in her 60s known as Mama Makajjo was caught with ticked ballot papers at Kikandwa Polling Station Rubaga division. They were in favour of Rubaga North MP candidate Katongole Singh.This frastuated voters at the polling station who wanted to lynch her. Mama makajjo was saved by the police who took her to Old Kampala Police Station. Also arrested was the leader of the group that wanted to lynch her, apparently for insighting violence. The presiding officer at Kikandwa, known only by Nabasa, was blamed for turning a blind eye to the matter.

1736 EAT: A number of polling stations in Isingiro, Ntungamo, Bushenyi are still voting following delayed delivery of materials. The official closing time for voting is 5pm then counting starts.

1715 EAT: Official voting is supposed to have closed at all polling stations at 5pm and vote counting immediately starts. Seven of the eight presidential candidates voted. UPC candidate had not voted by close of voting at 5pm. We shall bring you updates of the vote counting exercise for presidential and parliamentary candidates across the country.

1711 EAT: Joseph Opul reports in Katakwi that voting has ended in most polling stations. In Adere polling station, people are anxiously waiting for vote counting. And in Agule-Apuuton polling station in Toroma County, most voters earlier turned out drunk and tried to interrupt voting. The voters had been imbing the liquors all night.  In the same station, three ballot  boxes had no covers.

1658 EAT: With minutes left to the close of voting, Uganda Peoples Congress party president and flag bearer, Amb. Olara Otunnu had not showed up at a Nakawa Division polling station where he had been expected to cast his ballot in Kampala. Details of Mr Otunnu’s whereabouts remain unclear as his known mobile telephone was going unanswered by 5.00 pm. Mr Otunnu had by yesterday indicated he would not accept the results from today’s election which he said were a culmination of a flawed process intended to facilitate an electoral fraud.

1655 EAT: Different types of ink have been used to mark voters who have already cast their ballots from those yet to cast. At many polling stations, in the capital Kampala, ordinary stamp ink is being used instead of the indelible marker that by law should be used. At Kulambiro Church of Uganda Polling station in Kyanja parish, Nakawa Division, Kampala an ordinary ink pad is being used. President Candidate Jaberi Bidandi Ssali also pressed his finger on the ordinary ink pad after he voted. But Electoral Commission deputy Public Relations Officer Paul Bukenya says all polling stations were given the indelible marker.

1650 EAT: From Bundibugyo, Joseph Mugisa reports that several voters have found their names against wrong pictures. Male voters are finding photographs of females especially at Bundibugyo Boma grounds polling stations A and B. Several names were also found missing at many some of the polling stations especially Bundibugyo trading center polling station within the Town Council. Several people spent time moving from one station to another searching for their rightful polling station. A scorching sun has also caused delays as the polling stations are in the open.

1650 EAT: Joseph Mugisa also reports that two people are in police custody for election offences. One man was arrested as he allegedly distributed money last night but he has baffled police after he refused to say anything since last night. Another man was arrested after he attempted to vote twice at Harugale polling station.

1643 EAT: Steven Ariong reports that there was a good turn up in voting stations across the seven districts of Karamoja region. However, as voting wound up, the voting process was still facing many challenges. In Moroto district, a parliamentary candidate for Moroto Municipality, David Pulkol, was attacked by the team allegedly hired by the security agencies in Moroto district. Mr Pulkol, a former intelligence chief, was attacked at around 10pm last night in Moroto High School where he was dropping off one of his polling agents. The police impounded his car and later released at around 8am this morning.The district Police commander, ASP Anyama Richard, said the police didn’t intend to arrest Mr Pulkol car but they were trying to keep it safe because they had got information that Pulkol’s life was in danger.

In one of the polling station in Moroto Nakapelimen in South Division, Moroto Municipality, the Mayor, Joseph Lomilo, was manhandled by the voters who allegedly saw him dishing out money to the voters so that they would not vote for MrPulkol. The police intervened but no any arrests were made.

1641 EAT: Steven Ariong also reports that voters in Amudat District fought with the polling officers in Chepkarat polling station in Karita Sub County. The fight erupted after voters heard that some presiding officers had allegedly negotiated with some people who were trying to sneak already ticked ballot boxes into the polling station. However, the police did not make any arrests. The returning officer of Amudat district, Miss Lydia Lokawa, said there was no ticked ballot box but the agents became agitated because of some names that had errors.

1641 EAT: In Kotido District, some opposition agents were locked out by the electoral commission officials on the allegations that they had appointment letters which were not genuine. Later, however, they were allowed to work. Reported by Steven Ariong.

1640 EAT: In Kaabong District, Some people suspected to belong to the NRM allegedly went to distribute money to voters of Karenga Sub County and Lobalangit Sub County in Dodoth west at 2am last night.
However, the police impounded the motorcycle that was allegedly used for dishing out the money to voters. The district Police commander Kaabong, Dickson Ayesgomwe, confirmed the incident, but added that investigations are still going on.Reported by Steven Ariong.

1640 EAT: In Abim District, Steven Ariong also reports that voting in Abim District has been largely peaceful. However, it was disrupted by heavy rainfall. Today’s developments are in stark contrast to those of yesterday when three people were abducted by unknown people. Two of them were killed while one was left with critical injuries. The district Police commander of Abim district, Abbas Nyombi, confirmed the incident, saying it happened at around 1pm at Nyakwai. He said the victims were on their way from Teso sub-region where they had gone to buy food. He suspected that the incident might be caused by the cattle rustlers but added that police is still carrying out investigations.

1638 EAT: Voters at Nakamistae village in Nadunget Sub-County, Moroto district abandoned the polling station for their dear lives after sighting a group of armed people at a distance. The voters mistook UPDF soldiers to be warriors coming to attack them. But the Police were contacted and situation restored after recognising the army on routine patrol. The Moroto District Police Commander Richard Anyama confirmed the incident, saying it was a case of mistaken identity.

1638 EAT: Heavy downpour has disrupted voting in the northern districts of Lira, Alebtong and Lira while in Busoga it has started drizzling. It rained for about an hour in Lira and Oyam.

1627 EAT: There is reported ballot stuffing in Kiruhura District. Contestants running against incumbent Minister of Works John Nasasira; Abel Nkoreki and Mwestise Bintabara in Kazo say their agents have been chased from polling stations and in some polling stations voting begun at 6 am in the absence of their agents. The same has been reported in Nyabushozi. Mr Genensio Tumuramye who contesting against Rtd col Fred Mweisigye said his agents in across the constituency have been harassed and others have fled stations.

1624 EAT: The withdrawal of the woman member of parliament candidate for Kabarole District Margaret Mugisa Muhanga has been received with mixed feelings. Her supporters say they did not expect this to happen at the last minute. The argued that Muhanga has been running announcements calling for their support but now they are surprised to find that she has withdrawn. The Electoral Commission has pinned posters at all polling stations advising voters not to tick her name because she has officially withdrawn from the race. Ms Muhanga is not yet available for a comment. Report by Geofrey Mutegeki.

1618 EAT: In controversial district of Sembabule especially in the Mawogola County the voting started peacefully as early as 7:30amand the Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa who represents Mawogola County cast his vote at Katikamu polling station a10:00am.

1617 EAT: In Lwemiyaga County the voting started at 8:00am as a result of delayed delivery of election materials to in the sub-counties of Ntuusi. Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Sekikubo cast his vote at8:30am at Kyeera polling station. The voting in Sembabule was peaceful after a heavy deployment of a special police force and there was a big turn up of voters in the district. MP for Lwemiyaga, Theodore Sekikubo expressed fear over the ghost voters at Nabitanga polling station in Ntuusi subcounty. Mr Sekikubo said that over 217voters were put in the voter’s register of Nabitanga polling station and he has fear that some votes might be rigged in favour of his opponent Patrick Nkalubowho is also contesting for Lwemiyaga parliamentary seat.

1611 EAT: Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye was shocked when he found his name missing from the polling station where he was due to vote. Dr Besigye had been registered as a voter at Katenga Cell Municipal Stadium polling station. Instead he was advised to go to Rwakabengo Health Centre III polling station where he found his name and voted.

1607 EAT:Martin Aiko reports in Kaberamaido District that  soldiers intimidated voters early morning in town. And NRM district candidate one Ejoku  was still campaigning for NRM candidates. And in the newly created Apapai sub county in Kalaki county, most voters returned home after they didn’t find their names in register.

1605 EAT: Fred Muzaale reports from Bbaale Constituency in Kayunga District that many voters are bitter after being turned away from their polling stations yet they hold valid voters’ cards. The polling officials told them that their names were missing on the voters’ register. By 11 am, more than 30 voters were left fuming when they told that they could not cast their votes because their names were missing on the register even though they carried voters’ cards. Meanwhile, supporters of Mr Salaiman Madaada’s supporters have been arrested for staging a roadblock at which they were dishing out money to his rival, Mr Kumama’s supporters not to vote for him. Police were alerted and the four people were arrested.

1556 EAT: An aspiring councilor for Kigungu ward at Division B in Entebbe Municipality has been arrested for allegedly rigging elections. Mr Richard Ssekyondwa, the Democratic Party flag bearer for Kigungu ward councillorship, was arrested at Misoli wanting to vote after voting at Mayanzi polling station. “We saw him vote at Misoli and he’s looking for his name at Mayanzi that we can’t accept,” Mr Juma Swaibu, one the agents said. Entebbe Airport Police Crime investigations boss confirmed the incident but declined to give any further comments referring it to the Police publicist.

1530 EAT: Ismail Musa Ladu reports that a presiding officer in Kajjansi Manning Dispensary polling station was on spotlight after wrongly ticking a name of a candidate he said was not of his choice. The Presiding officer identified as Kasirye shocked polling agents when he came calling for another ballot paper, saying he was unable to use the first one because he inadvertently ticked a wrong candidate. The polling assistants wondered how the presiding officer would will guide voters, given that error. By the time Daily Monitor left the scene Mr Kasirye and a female presiding officers were engaged in argument as the former maintained that she did not have ballot papers for a person of the latter’s calibre to waste.

1527 EAT: Joseph Opul reports in Katakwi that voters are angry with EC officials for deliberately mispronouncing names of voters forcing many not to vote thinking their names were not in the register yet they existed but EC officials pronounced them differently. The problem was pronounced in Agurigur, Olupe and Aliakameri polling stations in the sub counties of Ngariam and Katakwi.At Ongema polling station in Usuk sub county, three ballot boxes were delivered without covers but voters rejected them forcing EC officials to bring some with covers. The officials said they had delivered coverless boxes after they forgot the covers in police.

1527 EAT: David Mafabi reports that a third person has died after he was knocked by minister Werikhe’s vehicles in Bungokho South Constituency in Mbale. The dead bodies are in Mbale hospital mortuary. Details follow shortly.

1525 EAT: DP's Norbert Mao and wife Naome cast their votes at at Holy Rosary Primary School polling station A in Gulu

1523 EAT: Just outside Kampala, scores of voters in Kyadondo East constituency had a stressful time as many names were missing from the register. At one polling station, Daily Monitor saw more than 200 voters turned away between 7.30 am and 11.00 am. Harassed-looking polling officials could not explain what could have caused the widespread problem which threatened to disenfranchise considerable numbers of eligible voters.

1517 EAT: In Mubende district, Several voters were turned away from polling stations  when they found their names missing on the national register. “ we are being denied  our rights to vote because the Electoral commission made mistakes in the register. This is  unfair we  should be allowed to vote ,” an angry resident Ms. Sophie Natumbwe said.

1507 EAT: Moses Mutaka reports that Maurice Kibalaya, a candidate in Bugabula south constituency allegedly stoned Kiyingi Bosa Zechariah, one of Asumani Kiyingi’s agents in Kitayunjwa. Mr Zechariah Kiyingi whose arm was broken and admitted at Dr. Were’s Clinic in Kamuli said Mr Kibalya hired a group of 40 people from Kampala to disrupt the voting exercise in Namisambya, Kiyingi’s home area. Mr Kiyingi said Mr Kibalya had condoned two zones off as no-go-zones to Kiyingi’s supporters in Kitayunjwa where Kibalya hails from.

1502 EAT: WILLIAMS MOI reports that in Ngora District that a polling agent  at Ajesa polling station was dismissed by the presiding officer because he escaped to vote at another polling station in Koloin  where he had registered under different names. At Koloin, he was registered as Omiat Moses while in Ajesa, he was Omiat Moses Okello. And an NRM candidate for Kumi MP seat Julius Omute, forced himself to enter kanyumu A polling station in kumi Town Council to talk to his agents but officials chased him away but not before he had caused commotion for 10 minutes. At madarasa polling station, a huge dusty wind blew off  voting materials and interrupted the exercise. At least 300 voters had cast their ballots out of the more than 1000 registered. Suspicion hangs in air now that wind could have aided rigging.

1452 EAT: Yoweri Kaguta Museveni casts his vote at Nshwer'enkye in Kiruhura distrist.

1450 EAT: Moses Mutaka in Kamuli reports that the State Minister for Lands and Housing, Asumani Kiyingi, this morning grabbed a ballot box containing electoral materials from a female presiding officer, leaving her with bruises. The minister grabbed the ballot box from Ms Justine Perepetua at Buwaibale polling station in Namisambya at 5:30am, before the voting exercise could take off.Mr Kiyingi alleged that the voting exercise had already kicked off at 5am, which he says contravenes with the electoral laws.

1447 EAT: West Nile Team- There is confusion at different polling stations as missing names, wrong location of new polling stations that were created and merged have marred the on-going polls in West Nile region. Several voters are being turned away from their initial location. But the problem could have been compounded by the creation of new polling stations and clean up exercise in the voters register that saw some names deleted. But EC officials insist that such scenarios could not affect the outcome of the election. The Nebbi District Returning Officer, Mr Kenneth Kayabwe, told Daily Monitor that people should continue to check their names in the next polling station.

One of the voters, Mr Akeng Omony, says he had moved to three polling stations without finding his name. “I am extremely tired because I was turned away from three polling stations. So it is just strange because in the last two elections I voted in the same station where my name is missing,” he said.

1447 EAT: FRANCIS OKIROR reports from Pallisa that election kicked off in high gear with voters lining up as early as 6 am. In Butebo County, EC officials faced difficulties to control people because they were many until police step in to restore order. The large turnout is attributed to the hot contest for parliamentary seats in the district. So far, no ugly incidents have been reported as the situation is calm.

1441 EAT: Station over allegations of bribing voters to choose NRM presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni. Nwoya District Police Commander, Mr. Moses Okello, said Mr Ojul was arrested following complaints from the community. He said investigations into the claims are ongoing. Mr. Ojul is currently a director at the Luzira-based Quality Chemicals industry that manufactures anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs for HIV/AIDS and anti-malarial drugs.

1404 EAT: State minister for Housing Michael Werikhe  and Mbale district chairman  Bernard Mujasi, are engaged in running battles that have so far cost two lives. Our correspondent in Bungokho South Constituency reports that Mujasi visited the area where voter bribery was reportedly taking place. Instead of addressing the malpractice, police reportedly wanted to beat Mujasi who then drove away  leading to a chase between him and Werikhe’s supporters.

During the chase, Werikhe’s vehicles knocked two people dead and injured four others at forestry area just near Mbale town. There is no love lost between Werikhe and Mujasi, Bungokho’s greatest political rivals in recent history.

1350 EAT:Mudhanga Kolyanga reports in Kibuku District that in  Bulangira sub county, bulalaka polling station, NRM agents  were chased away. And in kitoti polling station, an EC official Robert Nabyama survived lynching after he was  accused of siding with some candidates. Anti-riot police came to his rescue just in time. Two people one Kamoi and one Kagaba, were arrested for alleged voter bribery. They are in Kibuku police station now.

1350 EAT: In Budaka District, at kirumira polling station, Mudhanga Kolyanga reports that  voters complained of missing names in the register.  And some voters were being waylaid to be bribed before they reach polling stations. At Nalubembe polling station, a man only identified as saif, a supporter of MP Saleh Kamba was accused of pulling out a gun trying to threaten a polling agent. He was driving car number UAP 278B.  Police arrived after the man had left.

1338 EAT: A polling assistant for Laroo Division, Ms Anna Adong, and seven polling agents, all in Gulu municipality, have been arrested over allegations of influencing voters choice of candidates. The polling agents were  picked up at Holy Rosary polling station where DP presidential candidate Norbert Mao is expected to cast his vote. They are detained at Gulu Central Police Station.

1334 EAT: Joel Cherop reports that in  kwany sub county, Kween District at Tarak polling station,  over 230 names are missing and the elections have been cancelled. The district registrar Rashida Naijuka  says she is trying to use the computer to see whether they can find the names.

1328 EAT: In Katakwi District , Joseph Opul reports that  voting which started at 7:30 amid excitement  from voters after it rained for more than 30 minutes. The voters attributed the rain which fell for the first time in 3 months, to heavenly blessings. They were however, unhappy with the voting process which they said was very slow as each voter lined up to vote for nearly 50 minutes. In Asuret Catholic Church polling station  in Omodoi Sub county, Toroma County, the turnout has been very good. In Katakwi Town Council, Apuuton primary school polling station, names are missing in the register and the voting process is slow. At PAG polling station, there were no complaints.

1328 EAT: A gun which had allegedly been grabbed from Cpl Augustine Olupot after  he was on Thursday night hacked to coma in a scuffle between supporters of the NRM and FDC at Kamod trading center, has been recovered Joseph Onyango reports that three suspects have been arrested. Mid Eastern Police spokesperson, Mr. Juma Hassan Nyene said the officer, Corporal. Augustine Olupot had rushed to the scene to rescue the situation when an unknown person who emerged from the crowd cut him with a panga on the forehead.

1319 EAT: Eight FDC agents have been arrested in Kyankwanzi District. According to police, the eight had traveled from Kampala to apparently ‘guard IPC votes’. “We arrested them as they attempted to cause chaos at a polling station,” Deputy Police spokesperson, Vincent Ssekatte said at 1pm. “No one knew them. We recovered FDC T-shirts and sticks in the vehicle they were traveling in.”

1317 EAT: Mariam Kabasongora reports from Kamwenge District that many voters are being turned away because they are not finding their names on the register. Specific incidents have been reported at Kamwenge Social Hall where at least ten people had been turned away by 10:00am, Ikamiro Polling station in Nyabani Sub County where more than 20 people did not find their names on the register and at St Pion Primary School polling station.

In Nganiko Sub County a Parliament candidate posted an announcement on a local radio station claiming his two agents had been attacked and hacked but the claim was found to be false. Police is investigating.

1316 EAT: Voting in Manafwa is peaceful reports our correspondent Chris Matembu. However, District Internal Security Officers and Gombolola security officials were moving all over the area. The RDC Henry Nalyanya was seen addressing people and urging them to vote museveni, henry nalynaya.

1315 EAT: In Tororo, John Augustine Emojong reports that violence erupted at Elgon View primary school in Tororo Municipality after a fight between supporters of Sanjay Tanna and Apolo Ofwono. Trouble started after Ofwono ferried three buses of people from Kampala to vote him. When they arrived at the polling station, Tanna’s supporters resisted them from entering the polling station thus the fight which was later extinguished by the police. It was found that the people ferried by Ofwono were Makerere University students who had returned home to vote.
And last night, there was a similar fight in Bison, a suburb in Tororo after Ofwono’s supporters reportedly tried to burn houses of Karimojong residents. Tanna’s went on a rescue mission hence the night scuffle. 60 people are so far held at central police station over the incidents.

1315 EAT: Claims of ghost polling stations in Mukono. Mukono Municipality parliamentary aspirant, Betty Nambooze, claims there are two ghost polling stations that the Electoral Commission has not identified in terms of location and yet they appear on the list of polling stations in the area. She sighted polling station 02 at Misindye and polling station 013 at Seeta which she says may be used to rig the elections.

Meanwhile, business almost came to a standstill at Kikooza polling station in Mukono when Mr Geofrey Kiwewa survived being lynched by voters after discovering that he did not register to vote from the station where he was getting the ballot paper. Police whisked him away and he is currently being held at Mukono Police Station. Voters at this polling station have also complained about the process being very slow with some people abandoning the whole exercise. There were also complaints about the use of NRM candidates at the council level as polling officials at the stations.

1313 EAT: Margaret Muhanga, incumbent Kabalore District Woman Member of parliament officially withdrew her candidature for re-election last evening a few hours to the polls.

1312 EAT: Independent presidential candidate Samuel Walter Lubega got a major shock when he found his name missing on the voters’ register of his polling centre, Rainbow II Polling Station, which is found in Kawempe I parish, Kampala. Despite the omission, the presidential candidate was however allowed to vote by electoral officials at the polling station.Mr Lubega, who cast his vote at 11:55am, also claimed that the names of Mr Lubega’s Aunt and some relatives were also missing. He says he will not accept the outcome of the results due to irregularities and threatened to go the Egypt or Tunisian way.

1257 EAT: Mrs. Museveni has cast her vote at Karegyeya in Kikoni parish Ntungamo Sub County.

1255 EAT: Polling material for Kazo Angola, Kawempe II Parish in Kampala were delivered at 11am, four hours after the official voting time, with missing ballot boxes covers. Although a police car UP 2393 was dispatched to pick ballot box covers from the division headquarters, voters could not wait any longer and started voting without the covers although it is against the law. By 1:30, only 10 people had cast their votes at Kazo Angola LC Office 6A-Z polling station, out of 492 registered voters. At Kazo Angola LC Office 7, only 10 people out of 485 registered voters had voted by 1:30am.

1252 EAT: Kaberamaido is calm but Our Reporter Joseph Onyango reports that the most common case is that of no names in the register. Robert Engulu the district boss says that some ballot boxes were already ticked in favour of Museveni at Majengo polling station in Kaberamaido town but the DPC Amazia Bogere says the allegations were untrue and police had not got such reports. Enngulu, however, says presiding officers were “helping” voters fold the ballots before putting in the box.

1240 EAT: Civilians aided by Budadiri West incumbent MP Nandala Mafabi disarm soldier as other armed soldiers take off. Sironko DPC Gerald Mbasa Gerald also took off after voters who were denied the right to vote asked him why police was mistreating them at Bugusege polling station.

Meanwhile 8 RDCS from Bugisu area are all camped in Budadiri West to fight MP Nandala Mafabi. The voters say they have come to assist in rigging . The RDCs include Isaac Lulaba, Kato Matanda, Wazikonya Faith, Musobo, Mutenyo and  Wabudi Richard.

1228 EAT: In Teso, Williams Moi reports that voting at Community polling station located in Soroti SS there was low turn up between 7 am and 9am as only 29 people had voted. A local councilor complained that there was no security, prompting police to beef up their numbers. Demgroup also arrived. At Awoja bidge primary school, there was an increased number of voters by 10am. And in Atiira polling station in Ngora District, presiding officer, Julius Epenyu said 96 people had voted by 10. Foreign observers had visited the polling station.
In Kapiir Sub County, according to James Otoba, the presiding officer, 265 had voted early morning. Wanok Peter, the OC Kapir Police Station said security was under control with increased foot patrol. However, there was no guide at polling station to help an old woman to vote. She stood with a ballot paper not knowing to do until other voters complained . In Nyamongo polling station in Ngora District , there were complaints that some people were moving around distributing pre-ticked ballots.

1228 EAT: In Kween District that was curved out of Kacphorwa recently, the turnout is so far so good.
Our reporter Joel Cherop reports, however, that some voters turned up but didn’t find their names in respective polling stations. There are also incidences of missing names in polling stations. The voters are therefore moving up and down trying to find polling stations with their names.

1222 EAT: The Razor journalist Julius Odeke shot on the knee by bodyguards of the Minister for the Presidency Beatrice Wabudeya. His has been rushed to hospital in Sironko District.

1220 EAT: Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi of FDC, who is vying for the seat against the Presidency Beatrice Wabudeya, is bleeding on his leg but it is not yet clear what caused the bleeding. We will bring details as they come.

1216 EAT: Supporters of Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi are fighting running battles with UPDF soldiers in Buwalasi and Bumuddu areas in Budadiri West. Soldiers in Mambas (armoured vehicles) have taken over security in Sironko District.

1205 EAT: Moments after voting, Dr Abed Bwanika cast dark shadows on the polling exercise, saying many eligible voters could miss voting due to last minute changes in the National Voters Register by the Electoral Commission. Our reporter, Flavia Lanyero, reports that the People’s Development Party presidential flag bearer is disturbed he was shifted from Butikirwa polling station in Bukoto II parish to Nkurabiro Trading Centre, without notification. “Many people may miss [casting the ballot] due to these late changes,” he says. He says that more people could fail to vote since many polling stations opened late due to delayed arrival of voting materials. “There are few polling stations and voters are crowded,” Dr Bwanika says, “The Electoral Commission should have put more polling stations to avoid commotion.”

1205 EAT: Voting at Wanyange Primary school in Jinja District began as late as 9am. When it did, voters from several polling stations found that their names were mixed up, with many names having been transferred from their original polling centres. The mix-up caused some of voters who arrived at the polling station as early as 6.30a.m to leave their lines in protest. However, more voters poured into the lines by 10am.

1147 EAT: Our reporter in Lugazi Town Council says voting could not start at 7 am because of a morning drizzle. However, the situation has now normalized and voting is going on without any problem.  Many voters are pitching camp at polling stations after voting; armed with their rations for the full day. The voters say they want to protect their votes and they are not moving away till the results are announced in the evening.

In Buikwe West Constituency, Police had to be called in to restore order following reports that representatives of two of the candidates had clashed while distributing sugar, soap and money to potential voters in households at night.

1140 GMT: Our reporter in Kibuli, Kelesia polling station says some voters are ignorant of how to vote, several ballot papers have been cancelled after voters left them in the ticking booth. Some voters have also been turned away because their names are missing in the voter's register.

1136 EAT: Police in the eastern Uganda district of Mbale have blocked cross border movement in Lwakhakha border post in Bubulo East. Our reporter in Mbale, David Kazungu, says the decision has been taken for fear that relatives of rival candidates may cross from Kenya to vote.

1120 EAT: Our correspondent in Budaka reports that voting started on time and there are long queues at polling stations with a high turnout of women. There is, however, anxiety, over the heavy deployment of the army.

1116 EAT: Four vehicles belonging to the campaign team of state Minister for Northern Uganda David Wakikona have been impounded by Police in the Eastern district Bududa in connection with alleged voter bribery. Also impounded is one vehicle belonging to Isaac Modoi, a rival to Mr Wakikona.

The police say the vehicles were impounded at around 1 am after a tip off that they were being used in the distribution of money and other inducements to voters before the voting exercise kicked off this morning. However, the District Police Commander, Kapcherut Ayotola, says he had not arrested any suspect and dismissed earlier reports that police had caught Mr Wakikona in the night operation.

1105 EAT: Fighting breaks out in Budadiri West Constituency, Sironko District as UPDF soldiers camped at NRM area Chairman, Sulaiman Lumolo’s home beat up people.

10:55 EAT: UPC presidential candidate Olara Otunu is expected to cast his vote at 11am at Nakawa polling station.

10:55 EAT: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr Abed Bwanika, escorted by his wife, votes at Kulambiro at 10:30am. He caused laughter when he forgot to stamp his finger with ink. Dr Bwanika is currently addressing a press conference.

1041 EAT: In Makindye at Jack and Jill polling station, what was expected to be one polling station has been divided into two, according to the names of voters. Voters with names beginning with A to M are being asked to queue in a different area while those with names from N to Z are being asked to vote in a different area close to the polling station.

By 9am this morning, electoral materials for voters with names beginning with A to M had not arrived. According to the presiding officer at the polling station, the materials for voters with names beginning with N-Z were being held at Kabalagala police station.

According to Apio Faith a police officer at Kabalagala police station, police was not responsible for the delay of the delivery of electoral materials. The Electoral Commission had failed to provide basins for voting. By 10:45am, the basins arrived and voting commenced. There's however unrest as there's a mix up of names.

10:15 EAT: People’s Progressive Party candidate Jaberi Bidandi Ssali voted at Nsimbiziwome polling station in Ntinda. He said the elections were not free and fair and therefore they are not a true reflection of the people’s views.

1012 EAT: Chaos in Kyengera as boxes without seals are being brought in. People's names are missing in the voter's register

0936 EAT: Voting kicks off in Nakawa area with a snake queue. People cross about voting starting two hours late.

0930 EAT: Voter turn-out generally good in West Nile region. Our correspondents report that people are eager to vote and so far, no reported disturbances. There a few cases of people being turned away because their names are either missing on the register or they turned up at a wrong polling station.