Election body sets up hotlines for polls
May 19, 2009
THE Electoral Commission (EC) has announced a hotline for queries and complaints during the local government byelections to take place tomorrow.
By Barbara Among
THE Electoral Commission (EC) has announced a hotline for queries and complaints during the local government byelections to take place tomorrow.
The elections will be for chairpersons, councillors and women councillors. Those for people with disabilities will be held on Monday.
“The public can contact the EC on a toll free number 0800200071, at anytime, anywhere,†chairman Badru Kiggundu said.
To alley fears of misconduct, the commission has made public the list of polling officials for scrutiny by political parties, candidates and the public.
The election exercise will fill vacancies due to death, areas where nominees were not presented in the 2006 polls and for the newly-created local government units. Polls will be held in 75 districts, 275 counties, 840 Parishes and 2,901 polling stations.
The national exercise has, however, been over shadowed by the LC3 chairperson campaigns in Rubaga South, which have attracted several political big wings, including President Yoweri Museveni.
Meanwhile, the EC has suspended the elections in Namutumba district due to the recent alteration of the boundaries by the ministry of local government.
Kiggundu said a number of voters and polling stations were affected.
The affected areas are Namutumba trading centre and Magada sub-country.
Kiggundu warned presiding officers against involvement in partisan activities.
He also urged polling agents to monitor the distribution of ballot papers.
“The presence of agents at polling stations will largely contribute to free and fair elections,†Kiggundu said.
He, however, said candidates were required to write appointment letters to each of their agents for them to be allowed to observe the elections.
Kiggundu said only people whose photographs and particulars appear on the register would br allowed to vote. He added that those whose photographs are missing and those without cards, but whose particulars are on the voters’ register shall also be allowed to vote.
Kiggundu refuted allegations that the Electoral Commission had secretly distributed ballot papers to different people in Kampala.
“I challenged those who alleged to produce evidence,†he said.
THE Electoral Commission (EC) has announced a hotline for queries and complaints during the local government byelections to take place tomorrow.
The elections will be for chairpersons, councillors and women councillors. Those for people with disabilities will be held on Monday.
“The public can contact the EC on a toll free number 0800200071, at anytime, anywhere,†chairman Badru Kiggundu said.
To alley fears of misconduct, the commission has made public the list of polling officials for scrutiny by political parties, candidates and the public.
The election exercise will fill vacancies due to death, areas where nominees were not presented in the 2006 polls and for the newly-created local government units. Polls will be held in 75 districts, 275 counties, 840 Parishes and 2,901 polling stations.
The national exercise has, however, been over shadowed by the LC3 chairperson campaigns in Rubaga South, which have attracted several political big wings, including President Yoweri Museveni.
Meanwhile, the EC has suspended the elections in Namutumba district due to the recent alteration of the boundaries by the ministry of local government.
Kiggundu said a number of voters and polling stations were affected.
The affected areas are Namutumba trading centre and Magada sub-country.
Kiggundu warned presiding officers against involvement in partisan activities.
He also urged polling agents to monitor the distribution of ballot papers.
“The presence of agents at polling stations will largely contribute to free and fair elections,†Kiggundu said.
He, however, said candidates were required to write appointment letters to each of their agents for them to be allowed to observe the elections.
Kiggundu said only people whose photographs and particulars appear on the register would br allowed to vote. He added that those whose photographs are missing and those without cards, but whose particulars are on the voters’ register shall also be allowed to vote.
Kiggundu refuted allegations that the Electoral Commission had secretly distributed ballot papers to different people in Kampala.
“I challenged those who alleged to produce evidence,†he said.