The Ndorwa East County Member of Parliament, Honorable Wilfred Niwagaba, has criticized recent remarks by Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka reaffirming that all voters, including Members of Parliament, must leave polling stations immediately after casting their ballots in the January 2026 general elections.
Kiwanuka made the comments on Tuesday during a plenary sitting of Parliament, where he urged MPs to encourage voters not to remain at polling stations after voting. He explained that while voters may move some distance away, such as 20 or even 100 metres, they should not linger at polling stations, stressing that the management of elections is the sole responsibility of the Electoral Commission, not the military.
The Attorney General’s remarks were in response to concerns raised by Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda over statements by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The CDF had recently urged voters to “vote and go home” while officiating at a military promotion ceremony at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala.
However, while addressing voters in Kitohwa Parish, Kaharo Sub-County, Kabale District on Wednesday, Niwagaba, who is seeking re-election in the 2026 general elections as an independent, warned against what he described as a misinterpretation of the law. He argued that any guidance suggesting voters must move beyond the legally prescribed distance risks undermining transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
Niwagaba emphasized that the law only requires voters to be at least 20 metres away from the ballot-marking table, not to vacate the polling area entirely. He urged Ugandans, particularly those committed to democracy and free and fair elections, to remain vigilant and to guard their votes by staying within the lawful distance on polling day.
He further called on polling agents to remain inside polling stations to effectively carry out their oversight role and ensure full compliance with electoral laws. The legislator reiterated that strict adherence to the law by all stakeholders is critical to safeguarding the credibility of elections and strengthening Uganda’s democratic process.
CUE IN MP NIWAGABA……ON THE MATTER……ENG//
