Voters without IDs to use location slips

Two weeks to Election Day, the Electoral Commission will issue out to all registered voter location slips to enable them conveniently locate their polling stations.

According to the EC Chairman Eng. Badru Kiggundu, the slip bears the particulars of a voter for example photograph, identification number, names, date of birth, location and a barcode.  Using the biometric voter verification device, the barcode will help the polling assistants to verify the authenticity of the voter.

Kiggundu said the slips will be issued out to registered voters by the parish supervisors.  "I appealed to voters to go and pick their slips from the parish supervisors. The voter location slip is free of charge and should only be picked by the actual voter in person so that the barcode is not tampered with," Kiggundu said while updating the media on preparations for the 2016 general elections on Wednesday. 

Ballot papers delivered

During the briefing, Kiggundu also told journalists that the first consignment of ballot papers for presidential and parliamentary elections will arrive at Entebbe International Airport on Thursday.

The papers were printed by Paarl Media, a South African company. The other consignments of ballot papers from TALL Security Print Ltd of UK, Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing House from the United Arab Emirates, and local firm Picfare Industries are yet to be delivered.

"Printing of the ballot papers is on schedule and the stakeholders will be invited to witness the receiving of the papers at the airport and other handling stages, namely packaging and dispatch to districts. Only accredited candidates' agents, officials, institutions and organizations will be invited to observe the process," Kiggundu said.

Uganda will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on February 18. Seven presidential candidates are tussling out with the incumbent President, Yoweri Museveni.  A total of 2124 aspiring parliamentary candidates are also in the field battling it out for 455 parliamentary seats.

Allegations of vote rigging

Responding to allegations of planned vote rigging by opposition parties, Kiggundu said those alleging that the opposition intend to rig election should present to him particulars so that he stops them.

"I know these allegations go on every time we have elections but I also read about it in the papers. Let those who have evidence come and report so that we can arrest them,' he said.

Recent recruitment

Kiggundu told journalists that a shortlist of 140,050 successful applicants will be displayed at the noticeboard of each sub county for public scrutiny. The candidates will monitor elections are 28,010 polling stations.

Polling dates

According to Kiggundu, presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on February 18, chairpersons, directly elected councilors and women councilors for LC5, KCCA Lord Mayors and councilors will be on February 24, Councilors for PWDs Older persons and Youth to district councils and KCCA on February 26.

Chairpersons, directly elected councilors and women councilors for municipality and KCCA divisions March2, PWDs, Older persons and Youth councilors to district municipalities and KCC Division March 4.

Chairpersons directly elected councilors and women councilors for municipal division, Sub County and Town Councils on March 9 and PWDs, Older persons and Youth councilors to municipal division, sub-county and town councils on March 10.