The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, has petitioned the Electoral Commission (EC) over what he describes as illegal and restrictive placement of polling stations inside the Naguru–Ntinda Police Barracks in Nakawa West Constituency.
In a formal letter addressed to the EC Chairperson, Ssenyonyi says he is “deeply concerned” that at least 18 polling stations listed under different names are, in reality, located within the fenced police barracks in Naguru II Parish.
“These polling stations appear on the packing list as ‘Shell Grounds’ polling stations, yet on the ground, they are found within the wall fence of Naguru–Ntinda Police Barracks,” Ssenyonyi wrote.
According to the letter, the 18 polling stations are indicated to host a combined total of 12,455 registered voters — a figure Ssenyonyi says is highly questionable given the nature of the barracks.
“It is doubtable that this police barracks has that number of registered voters, comprised of mostly police officers and their spouses,” he stated.
Ssenyonyi further raised concerns about unequal campaign access, alleging that only candidates from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) were allowed to campaign inside the barracks during the campaign period.
“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. Candidates of the opposition were denied access, and even threatened with arrest,” he said.
The opposition leader questioned how polling agents and civilian voters would access the polling stations on election day, given the restricted nature of the barracks.
“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.
He anchored his complaint on both precedent and law, citing the 2010 court decision in Lukwago vs Electoral Commission, in which the court held that polling stations located within barracks violate electoral laws.
Ssenyonyi also referenced Section 57(3) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which explicitly requires that voting areas for security personnel be located outside barracks and bars the creation of special polling stations exclusively for the army or other security forces.
“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,” he wrote.
He has now formally demanded that the Electoral Commission relocates the contested polling stations before polling day.
“I therefore urge the Electoral Commission to relocate these polling stations outside the barracks before polling day, as required by law,” Ssenyonyi said.
Joel Ssenyonyi is not only the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament but is also the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate for Nakawa West Constituency.
