ARUA CITY, Uganda – Candidates contesting for the Women Counsellor position in Bazaar Ward here have expressed frustration over the repeated rescheduling of their polling day, saying the changes are draining their resources.
The latest delay, announced Tuesday evening, is the second for this race. The Electoral Commission initially canceled the election on Jan. 27, 2026, after ballots erroneously featured the name and photograph of late candidate Samira Haruna instead of her replacement, Zabibu Alias, nominated by the Forum for Democratic Change party.
Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama had subsequently set Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, as the polling day for all pending local government elections. However, in a press release shared via the commission’s X account at 8:05 p.m. Tuesday, he announced a further postponement.
“Accordingly, polling in the above affected electoral areas, which has been scheduled for Wednesday, 4th February 2026, will now be conducted on Tuesday, 17th February 2026,” the notice reads in part.
This development was also confirmed by Arua City Returning Officer, Oshman Ezale, who told Uganda Radio Network (URN) that they have already notified all candidates in affected areas and other relevant election stakeholders of the new polling date.
However, the candidates share disappointment over the changes in polling day for this election, noting that their resources are drained in preparation as they move into the ward to campaign and print out materials for identifying agents and their appointment letters.
The FDC candidate, Zabibu Alias, said that these changes to polling days are disorganising as she gets prepared for the election, yet the Electoral Commission keeps changing the polling date.
Similarly, the incumbent Women’s Counsellor on the NRM ticket, Zuria Adukudua Gutru, blamed the commission for changing the polling dates as she continues losing resources in preparation for the election.
According to the Electoral Commission, polling for all the local government elections in areas where voting was not conducted or was not concluded shall be for unfilled positions, including chairpersons, directly elected councillors, women councillors, and councillors representing Special Interest Groups at the city/district, municipal/city divisions, and sub-county/town, municipal division levels.
Meanwhile, the commission also informed that the polling for district-level elections in Butebo District is rescheduled and will be conducted on the same day, with areas where voting was not conducted or was not concluded on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026, on the same rescheduled date.
The polling day for elections of sub-county, town council, and municipal division Chairpersons, Directly Elected Councillors, and Women Councillors, is maintained to be conducted tomorrow, Wednesday, February 4th 2026, in line with the Electoral Commission Roadmap.
