Electoral Commission boss insists on voters leaving polling stations

KAMPALA - After meeting religious leaders on Friday (December 2), the chairman of Uganda's Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama, insisted that voters should leave polling stations after casting their ballot.

Ugandans will elect their next leadership on January 15.

With just under two weeks until polling day, EC boss Byabakama met with members of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) led by their chairperson, Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu of Church of Uganda.

After the meeting in Kampala, Byabakama told journalists that the directive to leave polling stations immediately after voting is informed by concerns around voters’ indiscipline.

He said that while the law allows citizens to remain at least 20 metres from the designated polling area, there are vivid examples of some people being disenfranchised by undisciplined voters who heckle people they presume to be upholding divergent affiliations, which he said threatens the integrity of the electoral process.

“The problem is not the law; it is the people who are undisciplined," said the EC chairman.

"Some of these people can't keep calm and just look on. Some end up fighting each other at the polling station, leading to destruction of election materials as has happened in the past."

'Don't hang around'

In mid-December, the Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, urged voters to go home after voting.

"We appeal to citizens to cast their votes peacefully and go home, not to hang around the polling stations. The vote counting and tallying process will be transparent and done in the open. Each individual candidate's agents will be present."

Not everyone is agreeing.

Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi insists that after casting their ballot, voters should remain near polling stations to ensure transparency.

But like the CDF said, Byabakama maintained that the votes are protected by the candidates’ agents as provided for in the law. 

"They are close to the polling station and can observe what is happening, unlike people standing within 20 metres.”

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abas Byakagaba, who also met the religious leaders separately, said the security agencies will enforce the directive of the Electoral Commission.

“What has EC said? That they go back home. EC has said it, and we will protect them [voters] according to the guidelines of the EC,” said the Police chief.