By Anzoo Evaline.

Adjumani District has joined the rest of the country in the nationwide exercise to recruit Special Polling Constables who will be trained and deployed to support election security during the 2026 general elections. The screening was done on 6^th November 2025 at Paridi Stadium.

According to SP Masembe Herbert, the District Police Commander Adjumani, who is overseeing the recruitment exercise, the district has been allocated 472 slots, open to both men and women, and strictly awarded on merit. However, the turnout so far exceeded expectations, with 1,486 applicants reporting for screening.

“We commenced the exercise of recruiting special polling constables as guided by the Inspector General of Police, the Director, and the RPC. Adjumani was given a quota of 472 participants including both men and women and the qualifications are strictly Primary Seven and above, targeting those aged 25 to 35 years,” SP Masembe said.

The DPC also explained that despite the clear communication of requirements, many people misunderstood the advert, leading to the disqualification of several applicants.

“Some people above 40 years turned up, and they were automatically disqualified because they did not meet the age bracket. Others failed on medical grounds because they could not manage the basic physical exercise we gave them during the interview,” he noted.

Applicants were also required to present a P7 result slip and a recommendation letter from their Local Council, confirming their credibility and suitability for training.

SP Masembe emphasized that the ability to communicate in English was essential since polling constables interact with the public and handle election-related procedures that demand Basic English proficiency.

Although the training for the special polling constables was initially scheduled to begin on 1st November and end on 31st November, police authorities have issued new guidance and the updated training dates will be communicated later.

Despite the high number of applicants, the recruitment team is ensuring a transparent and merit-based selection process. SP Masembe highlighted that priority is being given to women, who turned up in impressive numbers and met the standards set by the police leadership.

“We are carefully selecting those to train, based on merit. Women have come in big numbers, and we want to give them priority as part of strengthening inclusivity in the force,” he said.

The recruitment of special polling constables is part of the national preparation strategy to ensure peaceful, orderly, and well-managed elections in 2026. Adjumani’s successful handling of the large turnout demonstrates the district’s commitment to supporting a credible electoral process.

END.