EC extends voter register deadline

By Taddeo Bwambale

The Electoral Commission (EC) has extended the deadline for updating the national voters’ register by four more days, ending on May 4.

The update of the voters register started on April 7 and was scheduled to close on Thursday. It is aimed at generating a new voters’ register, ahead of next year’s general elections.

EC chairman, Eng Badru Kiggundu announced on Wednesday that the extension of the exercise was meant to give opportunity to more Ugandans to update their details ahead of the elections.

“Our observation and information from our field agents shows that high numbers of people are queuing up to update their details,” Kiggundu said during a press briefing.

Kiggundu said the national voters register used during the 2011 elections and by-elections was retired and degazetted on March 31, meaning it cannot be used for election.

The particulars for the national voters register were extracted from the database of the National Identity Card Project, in which Ugandans above the age of 16 registered to get identity cards.

The new national voters’ register will be used to compile registers for elections for youth, professional bodies, army MPs, workers, persons with disabilities and older persons.

The extension of the update exercise has led to marginal changes in the road map, with the last day of displaying the final register extended from June 22 to July 20.

Sam Rwakoojo, the EC secretary said the extension of the voters register update for four days would not affect the commission’s budget.

Joseph Biribonwa, the EC’s vice chairperson stressed that it was the last time the commission was extending the exercise.

“We appeal to Ugandans to use the long weekend of the extension to verify their details if they want to vote,” he said. The update exercise is being done at parish level.

According to the EC’s revised roadmap, presidential and parliamentary candidates will go for campaigns between October 12 and February 15, 2016.

Ugandans will go to the polls between February 12 and March 12, although the exact polling dates is yet to be set.

Related

MPs divided over use of national ID data for voter’s register

National ID holders will vote - EC