‘Voter registers differed’
Mar 19, 2006
VOTER registers used in the presidential and local council elections greatly differred from each other. the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), a local election observer, said in a report.
By Patrick Jaramogi
VOTER registers used in the presidential and local council elections greatly differred from each other. the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), a local election observer, said in a report.
The FHRI executive director, Livingstone Ssewanyana, said, “The voters registers used in the local council elections were in some instances different from those used in the presidential and parliamentary elections last month.
“The mishap caused confusion among voters and electoral officials.â€
He cited anomalies in Nakasero Market and Arua Park polling stations in Kampala Central, where several voters in the local council elections found their names missing on the register, yet they had voted during the presidential elections.
The report said the register used in the presidential and parliamentary elections at the UTC Park Yard polling station in Nakasero IV Parish had 192 voters yet during the local government elections it had 191 voters.â€
The report cited the same anomaly in Nakasero Market II and Martin Road A-M polling stations in Kampala and Kamukuzi A-L and M-Z polling stations in Mbarara district.
Ssewanyana said the discrepancies were attributed to inadequate preparations on the part of the Electoral Commission.
He said with support from Canada and the Netherlands, FHRI monitored the elections in the districts of Gulu, Kampala, Soroti and Mbarara.
The FHRI report follows that of the Democracy Monitoring Group (DEMGROUP), as well as for the Human Rights Network, which all indicated that the 2006 elections were marred by violence, massive rigging and violent incidents.
Ends
VOTER registers used in the presidential and local council elections greatly differred from each other. the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), a local election observer, said in a report.
The FHRI executive director, Livingstone Ssewanyana, said, “The voters registers used in the local council elections were in some instances different from those used in the presidential and parliamentary elections last month.
“The mishap caused confusion among voters and electoral officials.â€
He cited anomalies in Nakasero Market and Arua Park polling stations in Kampala Central, where several voters in the local council elections found their names missing on the register, yet they had voted during the presidential elections.
The report said the register used in the presidential and parliamentary elections at the UTC Park Yard polling station in Nakasero IV Parish had 192 voters yet during the local government elections it had 191 voters.â€
The report cited the same anomaly in Nakasero Market II and Martin Road A-M polling stations in Kampala and Kamukuzi A-L and M-Z polling stations in Mbarara district.
Ssewanyana said the discrepancies were attributed to inadequate preparations on the part of the Electoral Commission.
He said with support from Canada and the Netherlands, FHRI monitored the elections in the districts of Gulu, Kampala, Soroti and Mbarara.
The FHRI report follows that of the Democracy Monitoring Group (DEMGROUP), as well as for the Human Rights Network, which all indicated that the 2006 elections were marred by violence, massive rigging and violent incidents.
Ends