At various update stations in Mukono, Electoral Commission (EC) officials were seen idle for much of the day, with few residents approaching them for registration. The lack of awareness about the exercise was evident.
The Electoral Commissioner for the Kampala region, Dr. Sallie Simba Kayunga, has admitted observing irregularities on the first day of the national voter register update exercise.
Dr. Kayunga, who oversees Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Kayunga, Buikwe, and Buvuma districts, spent the day in Mukono monitoring the exercise. Although he declined to specify the irregularities, he assured the media that he would escalate the issues to his superiors for resolution.
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Dr. Kayunga appealed to residents to participate in the exercise, despite acknowledging the low turnout observed in Mukono and other parts of the country.
At various update stations in Mukono, Electoral Commission (EC) officials were seen idle for much of the day, with few residents approaching them for registration. The lack of awareness about the exercise was evident.
At the General Hospital polling station, a handful of youths turned up but experienced delays due to the EC providing only one slow computer, which hindered the process.
The District Returning Officer (RO), Mark Muganzi Mayanja, clarified that the ongoing exercise focuses on registering first-time voters, transferring voters, and assigning polling stations to individuals who have turned 18.
He noted that the activity is being conducted at parish/ward levels, while the voter register display exercise will take place at the village level.
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Mukono District, with its 18 sub-counties, has been assigned 18 teams comprising EC supervisors and officials to carry out the exercise over 22 days.
However, Mukono Central Division LC3 Chairperson, Robert Peter Kabanda, criticized the EC for poor planning. He noted that many residents were stranded at village polling stations, unaware that the updates were happening at ward/parish levels.
Kabanda faulted the EC for launching the exercise without adequately sensitizing the public.
Similarly, Robert Ssozi, a councilor representing Nantabulirwa at Mukono Municipality, called for massive public sensitization to ensure effective participation.