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The Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda CCEDU has started collecting citizens from its partners and individuals to petition Parliament and the Electoral Commission over suspension.

In Rutoma village, only 200 out of 600 registered voters appeared at the polling station. However, 20 of these were not found in the register and were denied the chance to vote. In Bwikaraga village, the register shows that only 43 out of 200 registered voters turned up for voting, a scenario also seen in Rwengoma A1 West Division, where 122 out of 402 voters turned up.

Sando Modo, a resident of Natum-kasikou in Rupa sub county, says some people are already in conflict following their divergent views and decisions to support specific candidates. He fears that the conflicts might worsen after the polls.

In his letter to CCEDU, the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugyenyi, says they have resolved to suspend CCEDU as partners in disseminating voter education messages and as an election observer for being partisan.

Mapped black spots include Nakibizzi, Mbikko, and Nile in Njeru municipality, Natetta in Kayunga district, and Twojera landing site, Buwangwe, Noowa, Mayinja, Namijiri and Bulugulu, in Buvuma district.

Joyce Achan Aleper, the District Returning Officer says a number of villages had unopposed candidates from the ruling National Resistance Movement-NRM party while several others had NRM-leaning independent candidates as their main challengers.

A total of 147 local council one chairperson candidates turned up for nomination exercise at the two divisions of Northern and Industrial division on day one.

Professor Frederick Sempebwa, the Chairperson of the Advisory Panel of ULS, says despite the fact that they applaud the Commission for organizing the elections after more than 15 years, they condemn the preferred method of voting, saying it is unlawful.

In a survey conducted by URN in Luweero town on Monday, between 10-100 residents managed to register for the village polls per village. Some of the villages visited included Binyonyi, Kavule, Galuweero, Kizito and Lumu zones among others.

The announcement ends the uncertainty on the polls that were suspended in November 2017, following separate applications by two citizens challenging the date set by the commission. The Commission had set November 14 as the date for the election.

The Commission had reportedly spent more than nine out of an allocation of 16 billion Shillings on preparations for the local council and women council elections before they were halted by the courts, according to information by EC Secretary Sam Rwakoojo.

Paul Mukungu, the Luweero town council LC 3 Chairperson, accused the legislators of extending their tenure on selfish grounds in disregard to the wishes and interests of Ugandans.

Bernard Ssenyonjo, a Lay leader from Kalungi Church of Uganda in Nakasongola, said he took oath to only serve God and doesnt want to pay allegiance to earthly leaders, saying he will skip the elections.

According to Justice Byabakama, the registration exercise will commence tomorrow and run to October 30th 2017.

Ssaka Kisekka, the incumbent chairperson Lumu LC I Zone in Luweero Town Council, says he intends to seek another term of office and has already notified the NRM party leadership.

George Kapeere, an agent of Natukunda at Rwambaga polling station told URN that he was picked up this morning and detained briefly by Godfrey Sengozi, the Officer in Charge of Rwambaga police post before he was ordered to vacate the polling station.