Election police constables in Lira threaten petition over unpaid allowances

16 March 2026, 8:11 pm

By Baker Okello

More than 200 Special Police Constables (SPCs) in Lira City have threatened to petition the government and the Electoral Commission of Uganda over delays in receiving their allowances following the Uganda General Elections 2026.

Some of the constables have also staged protests and warned that they could take legal action if the matter is not resolved soon.

Speaking to our reporter, the team leader, Ocuku Andrew, said the officers were recruited in December 2025 to support election security but have not yet received their payment. According to Ocuku, each constable is entitled to Shs75,000 per election activity, totaling Shs225,000 per officer.

He revealed that out of the 226 constables recruited for the exercise, only 38 have so far received their payments. Ocuku said repeated attempts to follow up with relevant authorities have not yielded any response.

Another constable, who preferred to remain anonymous, echoed similar frustrations, saying officials from the Electoral Commission directed them to seek clarification from the police headquarters where they were recruited and deployed.

One of the officers further noted that since January 27, none of the affected constables have received payment despite making several attempts to seek help from different stakeholders, including local politicians.

He added that some officers lost their regular jobs while participating in the election exercise and are now struggling to support themselves and their families.

Another constable expressed concern that the delay has made it difficult for some officers to pay school fees for their children or meet basic household needs. He warned that the affected group is considering legal action against the government if the issue remains unresolved.

Meanwhile, the female workers’ councilor for Lira City, Sarah Awor Angweri, condemned the delay and urged the city returning officer to address the complaints and ensure the constables are paid promptly.

Awor said similar issues occurred during the Uganda General Elections 2021 and warned that in future elections, leaders will not allow young people to be recruited and later exploited.

Efforts to obtain a comment from James Aggrey Ipeto, the returning officer for Lira City, were unsuccessful by press time.

Recently, officials from the Electoral Commission of Uganda attributed delays in paying some police constables deployed during the elections to mismatches between their registered names and mobile money account details.

The affected constables are now calling for urgent intervention from the Electoral Commission and government authorities to clear the outstanding payments. They argue that timely compensation is crucial to support their livelihoods and maintain trust among youths who participate in national electoral activities.