68,000 deployed for referendum
Jul 25, 2005
THE Electoral Commission (EC) has hired 68,000 field staff to manage the 17,000 polling stations during the July 28 referendum on change of political systems.
By Milton Olupot
THE Electoral Commission (EC) has hired 68,000 field staff to manage the 17,000 polling stations during the July 28 referendum on change of political systems.
EC chairman Dr. Badru Kiggundu yesterday said there were other supervisors at various levels. The field officials were recruited at district level and ended their training yesterday.
Kiggundu said 8,524,230 people were registered as voters, down from the 8.912 million before the recent voter register update. Over 9.1 million ballot papers have been secured for the exercise.
“Everything is on schedule and all the materials have been secured. We have started distributing the materials. I urge all registered voters to turn up at the polling stations at 7:00am. The voting will go on until 5:00pm,†he said.
Kiggundu said the EC was also setting up a centralised tallying centre at Hotel Africana in Kampala away from the traditional International Conference Centre, which is currently under renovation.
“The law requires that the results should be ready within 48 hours and I have no doubt that we shall make it,†he said.
Kiggundu said about 200 international and local observers had been accredited, but more applications were still coming in.
They include groups from the US, UK, India, South Africa, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Egypt, Sudan and Rwanda.
Meanwhile, Herbert Ssempogo and Madina Tebajukira report that the Police are to step up security in the city to ensure that Thursday’s referendum is a success.
Deputy regional Police commander for Kampala Extra Basil Mugisha yesterday said they would deploy enough officers at all polling stations.
“We are on the ground. All our energies are geared at providing security and protecting officials, voters and materials,†Mugisha said.
Mugisha was addressing a press conference at the Central Police Station yesterday. he said they would only turn to other security agencies if the situation got out of hand. Central region Police chief Grace Turyagumanawe also said they would provide enough manpower at all sub-counties.
THE Electoral Commission (EC) has hired 68,000 field staff to manage the 17,000 polling stations during the July 28 referendum on change of political systems.
EC chairman Dr. Badru Kiggundu yesterday said there were other supervisors at various levels. The field officials were recruited at district level and ended their training yesterday.
Kiggundu said 8,524,230 people were registered as voters, down from the 8.912 million before the recent voter register update. Over 9.1 million ballot papers have been secured for the exercise.
“Everything is on schedule and all the materials have been secured. We have started distributing the materials. I urge all registered voters to turn up at the polling stations at 7:00am. The voting will go on until 5:00pm,†he said.
Kiggundu said the EC was also setting up a centralised tallying centre at Hotel Africana in Kampala away from the traditional International Conference Centre, which is currently under renovation.
“The law requires that the results should be ready within 48 hours and I have no doubt that we shall make it,†he said.
Kiggundu said about 200 international and local observers had been accredited, but more applications were still coming in.
They include groups from the US, UK, India, South Africa, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Egypt, Sudan and Rwanda.
Meanwhile, Herbert Ssempogo and Madina Tebajukira report that the Police are to step up security in the city to ensure that Thursday’s referendum is a success.
Deputy regional Police commander for Kampala Extra Basil Mugisha yesterday said they would deploy enough officers at all polling stations.
“We are on the ground. All our energies are geared at providing security and protecting officials, voters and materials,†Mugisha said.
Mugisha was addressing a press conference at the Central Police Station yesterday. he said they would only turn to other security agencies if the situation got out of hand. Central region Police chief Grace Turyagumanawe also said they would provide enough manpower at all sub-counties.