12 districts fail to vote again over irregularities
Sep 05, 2010
THE NRM primary elections flopped again in 12 districts yesterday due to voting materials arriving late and irregularities. The party’s electoral officials said most polling stations did not receive voting materials.
By Barbara Among
and Mary Karugaba Â
THE NRM primary elections flopped again in 12 districts yesterday due to voting materials arriving late and irregularities. The party’s electoral officials said most polling stations did not receive voting materials.
“There are some districts which have not yet voted. We are going to arrange the new date for them. They are about 12 districts,†said Israel Kayonde, an NRM electoral commissioner.
Some of the affected districts are Mukono, Mayuge, Buikwe, Buvuma Islands, Kayunga, Bugiri, Kamuli, Namatumba, Kaliro and Iganga.
In Kampala, polling which begun after midday, went on up to late evening.
Kayonde could not readily state the financial implications caused by the delayed polls.
This will be the third time the NRM is postponing its elections in several districts. The primaries had earlier been scheduled for last Monday but the exercise was postponed to Saturday due to violence, irregularities, lack of ballot papers, while some ballot papers were tampered with.
Kayonde said in some districts, voting materials arrived too late to allow voting, while in other districts, elections conducted last Monday were cancelled due to irregularities.
In Kamuli district, elections did not take place as the ballot papers were not enough.
In Kalir,o six sub-counties did not vote. The district administrative secretary, Dyaka Eri, said there were few ballot papers. However results for the areas that voted will not be announced till the remaining 389 villages vote.
In Kanugu district, 58 villages failed to vote due to lack of election materials.
Voting did not take place in Namutumba district for lack of ballot papers.
Violence mired the election in Fort Portal municipality, forcing the electoral commission to cancel the election.
Meanwhile, petitions continue to flood the NRM headquarters in Kampala. The petitioners want the process repeated and some of the electoral officials dismissed.
Lydia Wanyoto, who is in charge of petitions, said yesterday that more petitions were being filed.
“Many petitions are still coming in and members are free to petition. Most of them are praying for a repeat of elections and change of election officials.â€
She said some of the petitions are against district electoral officials, accused of bias and taking sides with candidates.
and Mary Karugaba Â
THE NRM primary elections flopped again in 12 districts yesterday due to voting materials arriving late and irregularities. The party’s electoral officials said most polling stations did not receive voting materials.
“There are some districts which have not yet voted. We are going to arrange the new date for them. They are about 12 districts,†said Israel Kayonde, an NRM electoral commissioner.
Some of the affected districts are Mukono, Mayuge, Buikwe, Buvuma Islands, Kayunga, Bugiri, Kamuli, Namatumba, Kaliro and Iganga.
In Kampala, polling which begun after midday, went on up to late evening.
Kayonde could not readily state the financial implications caused by the delayed polls.
This will be the third time the NRM is postponing its elections in several districts. The primaries had earlier been scheduled for last Monday but the exercise was postponed to Saturday due to violence, irregularities, lack of ballot papers, while some ballot papers were tampered with.
Kayonde said in some districts, voting materials arrived too late to allow voting, while in other districts, elections conducted last Monday were cancelled due to irregularities.
In Kamuli district, elections did not take place as the ballot papers were not enough.
In Kalir,o six sub-counties did not vote. The district administrative secretary, Dyaka Eri, said there were few ballot papers. However results for the areas that voted will not be announced till the remaining 389 villages vote.
In Kanugu district, 58 villages failed to vote due to lack of election materials.
Voting did not take place in Namutumba district for lack of ballot papers.
Violence mired the election in Fort Portal municipality, forcing the electoral commission to cancel the election.
Meanwhile, petitions continue to flood the NRM headquarters in Kampala. The petitioners want the process repeated and some of the electoral officials dismissed.
Lydia Wanyoto, who is in charge of petitions, said yesterday that more petitions were being filed.
“Many petitions are still coming in and members are free to petition. Most of them are praying for a repeat of elections and change of election officials.â€
She said some of the petitions are against district electoral officials, accused of bias and taking sides with candidates.