Isingiro polls marked by poor voter turn-up
Jan 19, 2009
THE Isingiro byelection yesterday was characterised by poor voter turn-up.<br>Only a handful of voters had by midday reported at polling stations to cast their votes for the district woman Member of Parliament.
By Abdulkarim Ssengendo and Felix Basiime
THE Isingiro byelection yesterday was characterised by poor voter turn-up.
Only a handful of voters had by midday reported at polling stations to cast their votes for the district woman Member of Parliament.
The returning officer, Harriet Kashagire, said most of the people had to travel long distances to polling stations, while others may have opted to do their chores first.
The New Vision met an elderly woman, Pere Bandeeba, on the way to vote at Kyeirumba polling station at around 1:00pm.
Kyeirumba said: “The polling stations are very far. I have walked for more than four kilometres. Most of the voters have remained in their homes.â€
She said the voters only endeavour to turn up in big numbers only when the polls involve many posts like the presidency and county MPs.
Kashagire said a total of 138,589 voters were registered at 280 polling stations in 84 parishes.
The elections come after the the seat fell vacant, following the death in December of MP Viccy Kyaka Kyokuhirwa, in an accident on the Kampala-Masaka highway.
Voters were also electing LC3 councillors for the parishes of Kajaaro, Mugyera, Nyabushenyi, Kabaare, Rukungiri, Ruhiira, Kagaaga and Katembe.
Kashagire said she had not received any complaint from any polling station.
Meanwhile, the FDC candidate, Stella Kyakuhaire, did not cast her vote because she was not a registered voter in Isingiro.
Kashangire said Kyakuhaire was registered in Rubaga North, but the constitution allows her to stand anywhere during parliamentary elections.
She said enough vehicles were deployed to retrieve ballot boxes in all polling stations.
Electoral Commission chairman Prof. Badru Kiggundu was overseeing the exercise.
Kiggundu said the polling stations were orderly and that the candidates, religious leaders and security organisations were taught how to handle the exercise harmoniously.
Kashagire said the campaigns had been conducted smoothly.
The district Police commander, Thomas Kamugisha, said they confiscated a public address gadget from the FDC national mobiliser, Maj Gen. Mugisha Muntu on Monday.
“He did not resist when we demanded that he gives us the gadget. He said he had been using it during the campaigns, not on the polling day,†Kamugisha said.
He also said some people were arrested on January 18, over some minor electoral offences and were released yesterday.
He did not give details of the offences.
The New Vision, however, established that an FDC mobiliser and prominent businessman from Mbarara, Stanley Katembeya, was among those arrested.
THE Isingiro byelection yesterday was characterised by poor voter turn-up.
Only a handful of voters had by midday reported at polling stations to cast their votes for the district woman Member of Parliament.
The returning officer, Harriet Kashagire, said most of the people had to travel long distances to polling stations, while others may have opted to do their chores first.
The New Vision met an elderly woman, Pere Bandeeba, on the way to vote at Kyeirumba polling station at around 1:00pm.
Kyeirumba said: “The polling stations are very far. I have walked for more than four kilometres. Most of the voters have remained in their homes.â€
She said the voters only endeavour to turn up in big numbers only when the polls involve many posts like the presidency and county MPs.
Kashagire said a total of 138,589 voters were registered at 280 polling stations in 84 parishes.
The elections come after the the seat fell vacant, following the death in December of MP Viccy Kyaka Kyokuhirwa, in an accident on the Kampala-Masaka highway.
Voters were also electing LC3 councillors for the parishes of Kajaaro, Mugyera, Nyabushenyi, Kabaare, Rukungiri, Ruhiira, Kagaaga and Katembe.
Kashagire said she had not received any complaint from any polling station.
Meanwhile, the FDC candidate, Stella Kyakuhaire, did not cast her vote because she was not a registered voter in Isingiro.
Kashangire said Kyakuhaire was registered in Rubaga North, but the constitution allows her to stand anywhere during parliamentary elections.
She said enough vehicles were deployed to retrieve ballot boxes in all polling stations.
Electoral Commission chairman Prof. Badru Kiggundu was overseeing the exercise.
Kiggundu said the polling stations were orderly and that the candidates, religious leaders and security organisations were taught how to handle the exercise harmoniously.
Kashagire said the campaigns had been conducted smoothly.
The district Police commander, Thomas Kamugisha, said they confiscated a public address gadget from the FDC national mobiliser, Maj Gen. Mugisha Muntu on Monday.
“He did not resist when we demanded that he gives us the gadget. He said he had been using it during the campaigns, not on the polling day,†Kamugisha said.
He also said some people were arrested on January 18, over some minor electoral offences and were released yesterday.
He did not give details of the offences.
The New Vision, however, established that an FDC mobiliser and prominent businessman from Mbarara, Stanley Katembeya, was among those arrested.