The Electoral Commission (EC) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a transparent and credible parliamentary by-election in Kawempe North. Speaking at a pre-election stakeholders’ meeting at Makerere School of Public Health, EC Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama assured candidates, party representatives, and election observers that the Commission has taken all necessary steps to facilitate a free and fair electoral process.
Key Measures for Transparency To enhance credibility, the EC has implemented the following measures:
- Polling Procedures: Polling will only commence when at least 10 registered voters are present at each station.
- Voter Register: The updated voter register, comprising 199,064 registered voters, has been availed to all candidates to ensure accuracy and prevent irregularities.
- Security of Election Materials: Byabakama addressed concerns about pre-ticked ballot papers at Nammere, affirming that all materials remain secured with serial numbers to prevent fraud.
Controversies and Clarifications Byabakama warned candidates against deploying unauthorized “vote protectors,” emphasizing that electoral laws only recognize accredited agents. This response follows calls from certain candidates for voters to stay vigilant against electoral malpractice.
Additionally, EC Acting Secretary Richard Kamugisha assured stakeholders that ballot materials were packed in the presence of candidate agents, who received records of ballot paper serial numbers. He challenged those alleging fraud to provide concrete evidence for investigation.