Record numbers in 2011 elections
Feb 19, 2011
UGANDANS yesterday turned out in unprecedented numbers to cast their votes in the second elections in a multi-party setting, amid reports of missing names and late arrival of material at some polling stations.
By Vision Reporters
UGANDANS yesterday turned out in unprecedented numbers to cast their votes in the second elections in a multi-party setting, amid reports of missing names and late arrival of material at some polling stations.
Long snake-like queues were a common site at many polling stations in the city and other parts of the country, as voters cast their votes peacefully.
At many of the polling stations voters could be seen interacting with and being assisted by regular Police in uniform, many of them not armed or with only a baton.
But there were reports of some polling stations opening a little late after the stipulated time of 7:00am, due to minor disruptions like delayed arrival of voting materials or there being no voters present at that time.
According to the Electoral Commission, there are 13.9 million registered voters and polling takes place from 7:00am t0 5:00pm at the 23, 968 polling stations throughout the country.
The voting day was declared a public holiday.
The elections to choose a president and constituency members of parliament, are being monitored by over 1,600 local and international observers.
A total of eight candidates are in the race for presidency. They include the incumbent, the National Resistance Movement candidate President Yoweri Museveni, who is seeking a fourth term.
Others are opposition front runner and Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) candidate Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, Nobert Mao (Democratic Party), Jaberi Bidandi Ssali (People’s Progressive Party), Beti Olive Kamya (Uganda Federal Alliance), Dr. Abed Bwanika (People’s Development Party), Olara Otunnu (Uganda People’s Congress) and independent Samuel Lubega.
All the opinion polls including one commissioned by the opposition, have put Museveni in the lead, followed by Besigye.
Nakawa division
In Nakawa division, some registered voters at polling stations turned up only to be told that their names were missing on the voters’ register.
At about 20 polling stations visited by Saturday Vision, some people found their names missing on the register and they were told to go back home because they could not vote. But these were only a few unfortunate cases.
Joseph Ochen, 35, a voter at Nakawa Pentecostal polling station, was disappointed that his name was not on the register yet he had the voter’s card.
“I checked at all the three polling stations but my name was missing. How did it come about and yet I have participated in previous voting exercises?†he asked.
Alice Namusisi also missed voting because her Christian name did not appear on the register but the photo and surname were on the register.
The returning officer, Moses Kibuuka, said those missing from the list would not vote, quoting from the electoral laws that he said guide his every decision.
“Your name and the photo should be on the register, even if you have the voter’s card,†he explained.
At Bbiina polling station, some voters were confused about where they were supposed to vote from.
At Kintitale zone II, the voting exercise started at 10:00am yet the official voting time is 7:00am.
The area chairman, William Galabuzi, attributed the delay on the returning officer, blaming him for the late arrival of materials.
“EC officials were dispatching materials at every station but when they came here, the officer in charge was not around,†he said. The NRM candidate for Nakawa Division, Frederick Ruhindi, yesterday complained about the missing names of voters in his electoral area.
“Some people’s names are missing on the electoral register, though the exercise has been going on smoothly,†Ruhindi said at Bugolobi, where he cast his vote.
The exercise, that began at 8:00am saw many voters turning up to vote their favored candidates.
Justin Okoth, the presiding officer, said the exercise was delayed because some people’s names were missing from the register. “Some people turned up with registration slips but their names were missing from the lists. Unfortunately, they were chased awayâ€, Okoth said.
Kololo
In Kololo, voting was peaceful and without incident, and the electoral materials arrived on time. A few cases of people who did not go for the verification exercise and therefore did not have their photos against their names, were referred to other stations.
UGANDANS yesterday turned out in unprecedented numbers to cast their votes in the second elections in a multi-party setting, amid reports of missing names and late arrival of material at some polling stations.
Long snake-like queues were a common site at many polling stations in the city and other parts of the country, as voters cast their votes peacefully.
At many of the polling stations voters could be seen interacting with and being assisted by regular Police in uniform, many of them not armed or with only a baton.
But there were reports of some polling stations opening a little late after the stipulated time of 7:00am, due to minor disruptions like delayed arrival of voting materials or there being no voters present at that time.
According to the Electoral Commission, there are 13.9 million registered voters and polling takes place from 7:00am t0 5:00pm at the 23, 968 polling stations throughout the country.
The voting day was declared a public holiday.
The elections to choose a president and constituency members of parliament, are being monitored by over 1,600 local and international observers.
A total of eight candidates are in the race for presidency. They include the incumbent, the National Resistance Movement candidate President Yoweri Museveni, who is seeking a fourth term.
Others are opposition front runner and Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) candidate Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, Nobert Mao (Democratic Party), Jaberi Bidandi Ssali (People’s Progressive Party), Beti Olive Kamya (Uganda Federal Alliance), Dr. Abed Bwanika (People’s Development Party), Olara Otunnu (Uganda People’s Congress) and independent Samuel Lubega.
All the opinion polls including one commissioned by the opposition, have put Museveni in the lead, followed by Besigye.
Nakawa division
In Nakawa division, some registered voters at polling stations turned up only to be told that their names were missing on the voters’ register.
At about 20 polling stations visited by Saturday Vision, some people found their names missing on the register and they were told to go back home because they could not vote. But these were only a few unfortunate cases.
Joseph Ochen, 35, a voter at Nakawa Pentecostal polling station, was disappointed that his name was not on the register yet he had the voter’s card.
“I checked at all the three polling stations but my name was missing. How did it come about and yet I have participated in previous voting exercises?†he asked.
Alice Namusisi also missed voting because her Christian name did not appear on the register but the photo and surname were on the register.
The returning officer, Moses Kibuuka, said those missing from the list would not vote, quoting from the electoral laws that he said guide his every decision.
“Your name and the photo should be on the register, even if you have the voter’s card,†he explained.
At Bbiina polling station, some voters were confused about where they were supposed to vote from.
At Kintitale zone II, the voting exercise started at 10:00am yet the official voting time is 7:00am.
The area chairman, William Galabuzi, attributed the delay on the returning officer, blaming him for the late arrival of materials.
“EC officials were dispatching materials at every station but when they came here, the officer in charge was not around,†he said. The NRM candidate for Nakawa Division, Frederick Ruhindi, yesterday complained about the missing names of voters in his electoral area.
“Some people’s names are missing on the electoral register, though the exercise has been going on smoothly,†Ruhindi said at Bugolobi, where he cast his vote.
The exercise, that began at 8:00am saw many voters turning up to vote their favored candidates.
Justin Okoth, the presiding officer, said the exercise was delayed because some people’s names were missing from the register. “Some people turned up with registration slips but their names were missing from the lists. Unfortunately, they were chased awayâ€, Okoth said.
Kololo
In Kololo, voting was peaceful and without incident, and the electoral materials arrived on time. A few cases of people who did not go for the verification exercise and therefore did not have their photos against their names, were referred to other stations.