Elections peaceful
Feb 23, 2006
Ugandans yesterday turned up in large numbers forming lengthy queues at polling stations countrywide, as they elected the president and MPs.
By Vision reporters
Ugandans yesterday turned up in large numbers forming lengthy queues at polling stations countrywide, as they elected the president and MPs.
Voter turn-out was high in most areas, with Ugandans waking up early to cast their vote in the first multiparty election in 25 years.
The exercise took off peacefully with no major cases of violence. However, missing names on the national photographic register, heavy rains and delayed delivery of voting materials dogged the poll.
The five presidential candidates were incumbent Yoweri Museveni (NRM), FDC’s Col. Kizza Besigye, DP’s John Ssebaana Kizito, UPC’s Miria Obote and Dr. Abed Bwanika.
Enthusiastic voters with voters’ cards were turned away because their names were missing.
Deputy Electoral Commission (ec) chief Sr. Margaret Magoba said the principal document for voting was the register and not the cards.
“People who have cards but do not appear on the register were recommended to be deleted from the register by parish tribunals either because they left the areas or registered in areas they did not belong to or died. Some of those cards are bought. There is nothing we can do,†she said.
European Union observer Margrietus van den Berg, who visited Gulu, Soroti and Wakiso said the polls were free. “I am satisfied with the voter turnout, their desire to vote and their enthusiasm to take charge of the destiny of their country,†he said.
Due to poor civic education, some voters were sensitised at the polling centres. Police chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura said the exercise was smooth.
“We have been getting reports of parliamentary candidates campaigning and violating electoral laws. Even then we acted decisively,†he said.
In Busia, Kayihura said, the Police were investigating reports that some men kidnapped a woman before they were arrested.
The Police in Soroti are holding a man who allegedly burnt with acid ballot papers cast at Kidetok primary school polling station in Kasilo county.
In the city, voters cast their votes amid tight security. City streets were deserted as voters cast their votes and returned to their homes.
Police and EC said they had received reports of voters turning up at polling stations only to find their names missing.
The affected voters went to the EC offices on Jinja Road in protest.
“We have been getting those complaints but we have been referring those cases to the Electoral Commission,†Kayihura said.
Snaky queues were a common sight in the several city suburbs of Kitintale, Nakawa, Kireka, Makindye and Rubaga divisions as eager voters patiently waited to vote.
In Bukoto mid-west constituency in Masaka district, the windscreen of the official vehicle of State Minister for Internal Affairs Dr. Kezimbira Miyingo, was smashed in election-related violence.
Southern regional Police chief Eugene Nkore said the vehicle was attacked at Mbirizi Police post and at Kabalunzi.
In Rukiga county, Kabale district, five FDC supporters were arrested at mid-night and detained at the district Police station over violence.
“They were not campaigning or making noise but roaming the deserted village roads and were picked on suspicion of inciting violence,†Kabale Police chief Willis Kyolimpa said.
Meanwhile, unknown attackers smashed the windscreen of a vehicle and vanished in the dark, leaving behind a sharp edged club that was recovered by Police.
Though most polling stations opened on time at 7:00am, several others upcountry and in the city opened late either due to late delivery of election materials or due lateness by polling officers.
In some areas voters rejected the black ballot boxes which had been supplied for district women representatives. The ballot boxes for presidential and directly elected MPs were transparent.
EC spokesman Okello Jabweli said the black boxes were meant for the women elections countrywide. In Oyam South, EC suspended elections because NRM candidate Patrick Ogwang’s name was missing from the ballot paper. Returning officer Charles Egimu said, “The candidate was nominated at the headquarters in Kampala, who have instructed me to suspend the election for the directly-elected MP.â€
In Aswa county, Gulu voting started late after incumbent MP Reagan Okumu protested the delivery of the materials to his constituency without security.
In Nabuuti, Mukono some voters were turned away when they presented their NRM party cards instead of the voters cards. Some male voters did not know they were required to vote for women MPs.
In the previous elections, women representatives were elected by an electoral college.
In Rubaga Division where Catholic prelate Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala voted, voters protested the omission of their names. “Uganda will continue to suffer so much. Where did they get the power to cancel our names?†asked a furious nun. In Apac inmates fled after warders were taken to secure polling stations. However, 16 of them were rearrested.
Reported by S. Candia, F. Osike, M. Olupot, M. Nalunkuuma and C. Etukuri
Ugandans yesterday turned up in large numbers forming lengthy queues at polling stations countrywide, as they elected the president and MPs.
Voter turn-out was high in most areas, with Ugandans waking up early to cast their vote in the first multiparty election in 25 years.
The exercise took off peacefully with no major cases of violence. However, missing names on the national photographic register, heavy rains and delayed delivery of voting materials dogged the poll.
The five presidential candidates were incumbent Yoweri Museveni (NRM), FDC’s Col. Kizza Besigye, DP’s John Ssebaana Kizito, UPC’s Miria Obote and Dr. Abed Bwanika.
Enthusiastic voters with voters’ cards were turned away because their names were missing.
Deputy Electoral Commission (ec) chief Sr. Margaret Magoba said the principal document for voting was the register and not the cards.
“People who have cards but do not appear on the register were recommended to be deleted from the register by parish tribunals either because they left the areas or registered in areas they did not belong to or died. Some of those cards are bought. There is nothing we can do,†she said.
European Union observer Margrietus van den Berg, who visited Gulu, Soroti and Wakiso said the polls were free. “I am satisfied with the voter turnout, their desire to vote and their enthusiasm to take charge of the destiny of their country,†he said.
Due to poor civic education, some voters were sensitised at the polling centres. Police chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura said the exercise was smooth.
“We have been getting reports of parliamentary candidates campaigning and violating electoral laws. Even then we acted decisively,†he said.
In Busia, Kayihura said, the Police were investigating reports that some men kidnapped a woman before they were arrested.
The Police in Soroti are holding a man who allegedly burnt with acid ballot papers cast at Kidetok primary school polling station in Kasilo county.
In the city, voters cast their votes amid tight security. City streets were deserted as voters cast their votes and returned to their homes.
Police and EC said they had received reports of voters turning up at polling stations only to find their names missing.
The affected voters went to the EC offices on Jinja Road in protest.
“We have been getting those complaints but we have been referring those cases to the Electoral Commission,†Kayihura said.
Snaky queues were a common sight in the several city suburbs of Kitintale, Nakawa, Kireka, Makindye and Rubaga divisions as eager voters patiently waited to vote.
In Bukoto mid-west constituency in Masaka district, the windscreen of the official vehicle of State Minister for Internal Affairs Dr. Kezimbira Miyingo, was smashed in election-related violence.
Southern regional Police chief Eugene Nkore said the vehicle was attacked at Mbirizi Police post and at Kabalunzi.
In Rukiga county, Kabale district, five FDC supporters were arrested at mid-night and detained at the district Police station over violence.
“They were not campaigning or making noise but roaming the deserted village roads and were picked on suspicion of inciting violence,†Kabale Police chief Willis Kyolimpa said.
Meanwhile, unknown attackers smashed the windscreen of a vehicle and vanished in the dark, leaving behind a sharp edged club that was recovered by Police.
Though most polling stations opened on time at 7:00am, several others upcountry and in the city opened late either due to late delivery of election materials or due lateness by polling officers.
In some areas voters rejected the black ballot boxes which had been supplied for district women representatives. The ballot boxes for presidential and directly elected MPs were transparent.
EC spokesman Okello Jabweli said the black boxes were meant for the women elections countrywide. In Oyam South, EC suspended elections because NRM candidate Patrick Ogwang’s name was missing from the ballot paper. Returning officer Charles Egimu said, “The candidate was nominated at the headquarters in Kampala, who have instructed me to suspend the election for the directly-elected MP.â€
In Aswa county, Gulu voting started late after incumbent MP Reagan Okumu protested the delivery of the materials to his constituency without security.
In Nabuuti, Mukono some voters were turned away when they presented their NRM party cards instead of the voters cards. Some male voters did not know they were required to vote for women MPs.
In the previous elections, women representatives were elected by an electoral college.
In Rubaga Division where Catholic prelate Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala voted, voters protested the omission of their names. “Uganda will continue to suffer so much. Where did they get the power to cancel our names?†asked a furious nun. In Apac inmates fled after warders were taken to secure polling stations. However, 16 of them were rearrested.
Reported by S. Candia, F. Osike, M. Olupot, M. Nalunkuuma and C. Etukuri