Gulu City Welcomes 66 New Polling Stations for the 2026 General Elections
In a strategic move to streamline the voting process and enhance the efficiency of the upcoming general elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) has announced the creation of 66 new polling stations within Gulu City. This significant expansion is a direct response to the city’s burgeoning population and is designed to ensure that no single polling station exceeds a maximum of 600 registered voters.
As the countdown to the January 15 polls reaches its final week, the EC’s efforts in Northern Uganda’s largest urban center highlight a nationwide commitment to reducing congestion, minimizing wait times, and fostering a more transparent and accessible electoral environment.
Addressing the Density Dilemma
Gulu City has undergone a dramatic transformation since its elevation to city status in 2020. This growth has brought with it a surge in the registered voter population, particularly in high-density areas within the Laroo-Pece and Bardege-Layibi divisions.
Historically, large polling stations in Gulu have been flashpoints for frustration. During the 2021 elections, some stations in the city center reportedly hosted over 1,000 voters, leading to long queues that stretched into the late evening. Such overcrowding not only exhausts voters and polling officials but also raises concerns about the security of the ballot and the potential for late-night disruptions during the counting process.
By capping the voter limit at 600 per station, the EC aims to:
- Speed up Verification: Reduce the time spent at the Biometric Voter Verification (BVV) machines.
- Enhance Scrutiny: Allow polling agents and observers a clearer view of the process without the chaos of a massive crowd.
- Facilitate Timely Results: Ensure that counting and tallying at the local level can begin as soon as the polls close at 4:00 PM.
Strategic Locations and Accessibility
The 66 new stations have been strategically placed to bring the “ballot box closer to the doorstep.” Many of these new sites are located in newly developed residential clusters and trading centers that were previously underserved.
The Gulu City Returning Officer emphasized that the reorganization was a result of a comprehensive mapping exercise conducted in late 2024 and early 2025. “We didn’t just add numbers; we looked at where the people are,” the officer stated during a stakeholder briefing. “Our goal is to ensure that no elderly person or person with a disability has to travel more than two kilometers to exercise their right to vote.”
The new stations are primarily situated at:
- Public Primary Schools: Utilizing the ample space and central locations of government-aided schools.
- Community Centers: Leveraging local social halls that provide sheltered areas for the voting booths.
- Open Public Spaces: Ensuring visibility and ease of access for security monitoring.
The Role of Voter Location Slips (VLS)
To prevent confusion among the 103,401 registered voters in Gulu City, the EC has intensified the distribution of Voter Location Slips (VLS). Since December 15, 2025, Parish Supervisors have been handing out these slips, which explicitly state the name and location of a voter’s assigned station.
With 66 new stations, thousands of voters will find themselves voting at a different location than they did in 2021. The EC is urging all residents of Gulu to collect their slips before the January 13 deadline to avoid “polling station wandering” on the morning of January 15.
Civil Society Cautiously Optimistic
Local civil society groups, including the Northern Uganda Human Rights Network, have welcomed the move but remain vigilant. While the reduction in voter density is seen as a positive step for human rights and voter comfort, there are calls for increased clarity on the staffing of these new stations.
“Creating 66 new stations means hiring and training at least 330 additional polling officials for Gulu City alone,” noted a local election observer. “We must ensure that these new officials are adequately trained on the Biometric kits and that they remain neutral throughout the day.”
There is also the question of security. Each new station requires a dedicated security presence. The regional police command has assured the public that they have sufficient personnel to cover all stations, including the newly created ones, to prevent any instances of intimidation or violence.
A Test Case for Urban Election Management
The success of the 2026 elections in Gulu City will likely serve as a blueprint for how the EC manages urban voting in other rapidly growing cities like Mbarara, Jinja, and Arua. By tackling the “voter density” problem head-on, the Commission is attempting to professionalize the experience and remove the logistical hurdles that often discourage urban dwellers from participating in the democratic process.
As the sun sets over Gulu today, the physical preparation—the marking of boundaries, the delivery of booths, and the final briefing of supervisors—is well underway. For the voters of Gulu, the hope is that these 66 new stations will lead to a shorter wait, a smoother process, and a result that truly reflects the will of the city result that truly reflects the will of the city.
