EC starts register update
Sep 28, 2005
THE Electoral Commission (EC) today commences a 30-day update of the photo-bearing National Voters’ Register and issuance of voter cards.
By Milton Olupot
THE Electoral Commission (EC) today commences a 30-day update of the photo-bearing National Voters’ Register and issuance of voter cards.
The exercise will be conducted at each polling station throughout the country, ahead of the 2006 general elections.
Dr. Badru Kiggundu, the EC Chairman, yesterday said the update, aimed at capturing over 3.5 million eligible but unregistered voters, will close on Friday, October 28. “This is the last update before the generals elections.
“The total number of registered voters now stands at 8.52 million people. The EC is aware that according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics projections, there are now approximately 11.6 million eligible voters in Uganda. That leaves us with a probable balance of 3.1 million unregistered voters,†he said.
President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday, while addressing an NRM Interim Executive Committee meeting in Kampala, disputed the number of voters on the EC register, saying it was less by 3.5 million.
Commissioner Joseph Biribonwa, while reacting to the President’s statement, said, “There is a balance of 3.5 million people out there that is not registered and that is the figure the President wants to be registered.â€
Kiggundu said the update exercise and issuance of the cards would be carried out at parish level. He said arrangements were in place to register eligible students in schools.
He said the cards would be used for identification in next year’s general elections.
“Besides facilitating easy identification of voters, the photo-bearing card will help the commission deal with cases of impersonation, multiple voting and other anomalies. The use of the card will further enhance the credibility and transparency of our election.â€
Kiggundu, flanked by deputy chairperson Sr. Margaret Magoba, appealed to parties, opinion leaders, the media and the public to fully mobilise for the exercise.
THE Electoral Commission (EC) today commences a 30-day update of the photo-bearing National Voters’ Register and issuance of voter cards.
The exercise will be conducted at each polling station throughout the country, ahead of the 2006 general elections.
Dr. Badru Kiggundu, the EC Chairman, yesterday said the update, aimed at capturing over 3.5 million eligible but unregistered voters, will close on Friday, October 28. “This is the last update before the generals elections.
“The total number of registered voters now stands at 8.52 million people. The EC is aware that according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics projections, there are now approximately 11.6 million eligible voters in Uganda. That leaves us with a probable balance of 3.1 million unregistered voters,†he said.
President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday, while addressing an NRM Interim Executive Committee meeting in Kampala, disputed the number of voters on the EC register, saying it was less by 3.5 million.
Commissioner Joseph Biribonwa, while reacting to the President’s statement, said, “There is a balance of 3.5 million people out there that is not registered and that is the figure the President wants to be registered.â€
Kiggundu said the update exercise and issuance of the cards would be carried out at parish level. He said arrangements were in place to register eligible students in schools.
He said the cards would be used for identification in next year’s general elections.
“Besides facilitating easy identification of voters, the photo-bearing card will help the commission deal with cases of impersonation, multiple voting and other anomalies. The use of the card will further enhance the credibility and transparency of our election.â€
Kiggundu, flanked by deputy chairperson Sr. Margaret Magoba, appealed to parties, opinion leaders, the media and the public to fully mobilise for the exercise.