Residents of Apaa township in Adjumani District are concerned about the long distances to polling stations.
They warn that this could prevent many people from voting in the January 15th general elections.
Formerly under Labala Parish, Apaa used to be part of Labala Parish in Pabbo Sub-county, Amuru District.
In 2015, the government moved it to Adjumani District, which led to years of disputes over administration and boundaries.
During the registration exercise, residents living on the contested land but identifying with Amuru District rejected being registered under Adjumani District.
Instead, they opted to be registered as voters in Amuru District, despite their physical location now falling under Itirikwa Sub-county in Adjumani.
As a result, the Electoral Commission of Uganda gazetted polling stations for Apaa voters under Amuru District, despite their physical locations being within the disputed Apaa area in Adjumani District. Abraham Opiro, a resident of Lulayi village in the disputed Apaa area under Itirikwa Sub-county in Adjumani District, says the long distance to polling stations created for residents of Apaa could affect the participation of some registered voters in the coming general polls.
Opiro says if he has to vote this week, he will have to travel approximately 28 kilometres from his home in Lulayi village to his polling station in Apaa Primary School (O-Z).
Gertrude Awang Obua, the Amuru District Electoral Commission Returning Officer, confirms that voters registered from Apaa will vote from Okojo Village at Wii Owaa Junction, outside the physical boundaries of Adjumani District.
Ajwang explains that several polling stations were created close to each other because Amuru District election officials cannot transport ballot boxes into Adjumani District.
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