Voting in the Luweero district woman Member of Parliament by-election has started at most of the polling stations.
The four candidates in the race are DP’s Brenda Nabukenya, NRM’s Rebecca Nalwanga and independents Faridah Namubiru and Ramulah Kadala.
The Luweero district woman parliamentary seat fell vacant after the Court of Appeal nullified the election of Nabukenya over irregularities.
Queues have started forming at Kasana Health Center, Kasana Bright Future, Saint Jude Catholic diocese where both Nabukenya and Nalwanga are expected to cast their votes at 10 and 11 respectively.
Over 180,000 voters are expected to take part in the exercise spread across 375 polling stations.
Speaking from Luweero, the Deputy Electoral Commission chairperson Joseph Biribonwa says the process has started smoothly and they are adequately prepared deliver a free and fair election.
He has also explained that absence of presiding officers at some polling stations should can be addressed by replacing them with polling assistants as mandated by law.
Voting is however yet to start at some polling centers due missing voters’ names.
Meanwhile, the ruling NRM party is confident that victory is assured. NRM’s deputy chief whip David Bahati says with the support shown during campaigns, nothing short of victory can be expected at the end of the day.
The opposition Democratic Party too is not taking any chances in the Luweero woman parliamentary by-election.
According to the party’s Secretary General, Matthias Nsubuga they have dispatched agents to every polling station across all sub counties.
Nsubuga says the move is aimed at blocking any possibility of rigging.
He also expresses concern over reports of youths being ferrying into Luweero saying it will disrupt the electoral process.
However, the police spokesperson Fred Enanga says no form of intimidation or voter bribery will be tolerated.
He has assured residents of Luweero of a peaceful by-election saying they have deployed at least 5 police officers at each of the 375 polling stations in the district.
