Elections so far peaceful - EU chief observer
Feb 18, 2016
“Besides polling stations opening late, voting has been calm and there is no tension, I want to express my hope that this continues so that Ugandans can have peaceful elections,” noted Kukan.
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR A DETAILED COVERAGE ON ELECTIONS
The chief observer of European Union election observation mission, Eduard Kukan has decried the late delivery of voting materials by the electoral commission at various polling stations around the country.
Addressing journalists at National Theatre polling station in Kampala, Kukan said some polling stations had by 7:00am not received voting materials.
“Voting has started late and distribution of voting materials has been a problem,” said Kukan.
EU Observers arrive at the National theatre polling stations.
However, Kukan who visited different polling stations around Kampala, said voting has so far been calm and peaceful.
“Besides polling stations opening late, voting has been calm and there is no tension, I want to express my hope that this continues so that Ugandans can have peaceful elections,” noted Kukan.
Even as the Electoral Commission had set 7:00am as the official time to start voting, many parts of Kampala had by 7:00am not received voting materials.
By 7:30am, voters at Lufuka polling station in Bunamwaya Makindye were still stranded due to lack of voting materials.
EU election observers at the National theatre polling stations.
Voters at Naguru polling stations had also by 8:00am not started voting due to the delays in distribution of voting materials.
According to the EU observer mission, the delay in delivery of voting materials is likely to impact on the timeline given for voting.
Voters have up to 4pm to cast their ballots, however, according to the Electoral Commission, voters who will be in voting lines by 4pm, will be allowed to vote.
EU observers :Nicolay Pau, Penat Tardish and Maria Jose Gamez at the National theatre polling stations.
The European Union election observation mission was launched on December 28, following an invitation from the Ugandan authorities.
The mission is made up of over 130 observers, who are deployed across the country.
The information collected by the observers, will be the basis for the mission’s preliminary statement on elections.
The statement will be released on Saturday February 20.
EU observers :Nicolay Pau, Penat Tardish and Maria Jose Gamez at the National theatre polling stations.
A voter looks at a ballot paper before casting her vote at the National Theatre polling station.
A voter casting a vote at the National Theatre polling station
A voter has the finger marked after participating in the Uganda presidential and parliamentary national elections at the National Theatre polling station .
A voter casts her vote at the National Theatre polling station during the Uganda presidential and parliamentary national elections
A voter casts her vote at the National Theatre polling station during the Uganda presidential and parliamentary national elections
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR A DETAILED COVERAGE ON ELECTIONS