Army Gets 136 Polling Stations

THE Electoral Commission has gazetted 136 polling stations for UPDF units countrywide for the March 7 presidential election. The polling stations for army units were published in the Uganda Gazette, Volume XCIV, No.11 of February 19. Gulu district has the highest number of army polling station totaling 16 and Kitgum follows with 14 polling stations. Pader district, which was recently carved out of Kitgum, has seven army polling stations. The Gulu army polling stations will be at Kasubi for the soldiers in Gulu barracks, and others at Bibia, Omeecam, Amuru, Lobongo, Paidwe in Bobi, Market I in Owolo parish, Kal in Alero parish, Anaka, Purongo, Pajok, Kro kal, Pabo Barracks, Olinga, Aswa and Paicho. There are four polling stations gazetted for army units in Kampala district. One of the stations is outside the State House fence. The others will be at Kitante Courts, Makindye Barracks and Mbuya Barracks. Two polling stations were gazetted for army units in Wakiso district. One station is at Entebbe golf course and another at Bendegere in Nkumba parish. In Mukono district, the polling station for soldiers will be at Mpoma. In Kasese district, six army polling stations were gazetted while in Bundibugyo there are eight polling stations including one at Semliki Lodge in Karugutu parish. Electoral Commission chairman Hajji Aziz Kasujja told a news conference on Friday that there would be no voting in military barracks. "We have no restricted areas. We have no polling stations in Congo. All polling stations are within the country's borders," Kasujja said. He said military detachments with less than 100 soldiers would not have separate polling stations. The soldiers at these detachments would vote alongside civilians but with a separate register. Kasujja said election monitors and observers would have access to the polling stations. He said presiding officers and polling assistants at these stations will be civilians, but will be assisted by two military officers. Kasujja also said soldiers deployed away from where they registered would miss voting. Ends