Makerere Students Want EC To Change Polling Date

MAKERERE University students have petition the Electoral Commission (EC) to ask the university administration to allow students return for a few days to enable them vote, or shift the election date to march 12, reports Kezio D. Musoke. The chairman Council of Chairmen, Paul Boma, said about 20,000 students who registered in their halls of residence at the University stand the risk of not voting in the forthcoming election because the date of voting coincides with the students' holidays. Boma said students have asked for other alternatives, which also include sending the students' names who registered in their halls of residence to their respective polling stations before the display of the voters' registers. He said the majority of the students come from upcountry and travelling back to the university might require them to stay for a few nights. "Adopting any of those measures can avert this unfortunate incidence," Boma said. "If not the EC shifts the polling date to March 12 when students are back since this does not only affect Makerere University but also other institutions," he added. EC Public relations officer, Dick Kizito said that was an issue the students have to settle with the administration. He said it was unfair for the students to petition since a number of other institutions were equally affected. Ends