A ballot box and all of its contents has gone missing in Ntungamu district as Ugandans head to the polls.

The ballot box that was supposed to serve Rubare County, Rushenyi Sub-county in Ntugamu district was declared missing after a truck hired to transport materials to polling centers failed to reach its destination.

The disappearance of the ballot box that contained 832 ballot papers is one of several challenges the 2021 general elections have so far faced.

According to the Ntungamu registrar Latiff Ngonzi, about 40 ballot boxes were delivered at polling centres without their lids an issue that has raised questions concerning the integrity of the district’s officials.

3 people have been arrested in connection to the stolen ballot box.

In the events leading to the elections, presidential candidates, especially from the opposition have emphasised the need to ensure that the electoral process goes on with the utmost fairness.

A few directives by the Electoral Commission in an effort to manage the spread of COVID-19 during the elections like placing a ban on crowds around the polling areas have been met with contempt from the opposition candidates. They argue that it will not be possible to hold a fair election if voters are not allowed to keep an eye on their votes.

In a Press conference, FDC’s Patrick Amuriat, ANT’s Mugisha Muntu and NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi asked their supporters to “protect their votes” and spot things like missing ballot boxes.