Final Preparations for Local Government Council By-elections in Bukedea District
Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, the Chairperson, Electoral Commission has released final preparations for by election for Bukedea District LCV chairperson.
The vacancy for District Chairperson, Bukedea District, occurred as a result of the death of the former Chairperson, Moses Olemukan on 17th December 2022, while the vacancy of the District Directly-elected Councillor occurred due to the resignation of the elected Councillor.
Section 171(1) of The Local Government Act Cap 243 requires the Electoral Commission to organise a by-election for the District Chairperson within six (6) months from the occurrence of the vacancy. Therefore, the statutory deadline for holding the by-election is Thursday 15th June 2023.
Accordingly, the Electoral Commission has undertaken various activities under the programme for the conduct of the by-election, which include the following:
1) The update of the National Voters’ Register was conducted from Monday 8th to Friday 12th May 2023 at update stations in each of the one hundred and fifty-two (152) parishes and wards in Bukedea District.
2) The display of the National Voters’ Register was conducted for a period of ten (10) days, that is, from Wednesday 17th May to Friday 26th May, 2023, at all the one hundred and eighty (180) polling stations in Bukedea District.
3) .The nomination exercise was conducted on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th May 2023 at the Office of the District Returning Officer, Bukedea, and the following candidates were dully nominated to contest for the by-elections:
District Chairperson Candidates
1. Akol Mary (National Resistance Movement – NRM)
2. Lokwiisk Tychicus Ebukalin (Independent)
3. Oita Sam Odeke (Forum for Democratic Change – FDC).
District Directly-elected Councillor
1. Epilo Moses (Independent)
2. Kedi Johnson (Independent)
3. Ojilong Richard Kabuya Sofi (Independent)
4. Okia William (Forum for Democratic Change – FDC)
5. Ongole Richard (National Resistance Movement – NRM).
B) Conclusion of Campaigns and Polling Date
The campaign meetings for the above Local Government Councils by-elections commenced on Wednesday 7th June 2023 and were successfully concluded yesterday, Monday 12th June 2023.
The Commission wishes to commend the candidates and their supporters for a generally peaceful campaign period.
The Commission further commends Uganda Police for ensuring compliance with the campaign guidelines.
Polling will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, 14th June 2023.
Voting shall be by universal adult suffrage and shall take place at all the one hundred and eighty (180) polling stations in Bukedea District, beginning at 7:00 am and ending at 4:00 pm.
Thereafter, the counting of votes and announcing of results by the respective Presiding Officer shall take place.
Political parties and the candidates are encouraged to appoint in writing and deploy their agents at each polling station.
Please note that other than observing the exercise, candidates’ agents shall not be expected to interfere with the polling process.
We strongly urge voters to turn up early at their respective polling stations so that polling processes commence on time, that is, by 7:00 am.
C) Final Polling Register
The Electoral Commission has completed preparing the National Voters’ Register for Bukedea District, which bears the names of all the one hundred thousand, two hundred and ninety-four (100,294) registered voters.
– Females: 53,899 (53.7%)
– Males: 46,395 (46.3%)
The Commission has issued a copy of the Voters’ Register to participating candidates to enable them (candidates), through their official agents, to ensure that only eligible persons are allowed to vote during the by-election and only at the polling station where they are registered as voters.
D ) Dispatch of Polling Materials
The Commission dispatched the polling kit to the Office of the Returning Officer, Bukedea District on Monday, 12th June 2023.
There will be the internal distribution of materials to all the sixteen (16) Sub Counties and Town Councils in Bukedea District, on Tuesday, 13th June 2023, for eventual distribution to polling stations, to ensure that polling commences on time tomorrow, Wednesday, 14th June 2023.
Designated candidates’ agents are advised to report to the Sub County offices before 6:00 am on the morning of Wednesday 14th June 2023, to observe the dispatch of the polling kits to their respective polling stations.
E) Election Observers and Candidates’ Agents
The Electoral Commission wishes to draw the attention of the political parties participating in this by-election to S.16 (1a) of the Electoral Commission Act, which provides for the accreditation of representatives of political parties, independent candidates, civil society organisations, and any other duly registered institution, to observe electoral activities.
Accordingly, participating political parties have been permitted to deploy not more than five (5) observers per Sub County/Town Council. These accredited observers will be required to limit their activity to the designated areas (Sub County/Town Council), and the Police have been notified to enforce this regulation.
The participating political parties should have also submitted names of two (2) observers, who have been accredited for purposes of accessing the Tally Center and observing the tallying process.
The Commission has provided all those accredited with written clearance, relevant information, and identification for the purpose of observing the by-election.
Please note that media personnel will be required to present valid identification in order to access polling stations and the Tally Center.
Any individual found to be doing the duties of an observer or agent without due accreditation will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
F) Establishment of Query/Complaints Desk and Media Center
The Electoral Commission has established a Query/Complaints Desk at Bukedea District Council Hall, Bukedea Town Council, for the purpose of receiving and handling any complaints that may arise during the by-elections.
The Query/Complaints Desk will operate on polling day, from 7 am up to 4 pm.
The Commission encourages each political party/independent candidate to appoint an official agent to sit with the (Commission) officials at this desk, to ease the handling of any query and/or complaint that may arise.
The Commission has provided the following telephone numbers to enable the electorate to raise any issue of concern for prompt handling:
0800 300121 – Toll-free number;
0800 300122 – Toll-free number;
0392 004530 – Not-toll-free (chargeable number)
The Commission has further established a media center at the same venue, namely, Bukedea District Headquarters, for purposes of coordinating information and providing updates on issues and the progress of the electoral process.
The media center will be managed by officials from the Public Relations Department of the Electoral Commission and a designated Officer of the Uganda Police Force. They will give periodic briefings on the progress of the electoral process and address any emerging issues.
G) Appointment of Returning Officer and Gazzeting of Results Tally Center
The Electoral Commission has appointed Mr. Mugenyi Charles Mugerwa as the Returning Officer for the by-election of the District Chairperson Bukedea, and the District Directly-elected Councillor, Bukedea District.
The Electoral Commission has further gazetted the Bukedea District Council Hall, Bukedea Town Council, as the election results Tally Center for this by-election.
Please note that access to the Tally Center will be restricted to only authorised persons who shall have the respective accreditation tags/cards.
H) COVID-19 Prevention Measures
All persons participating in the above electoral exercise shall be required to comply with guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission in accordance with the Government of Uganda and Ministry of Health measures against the spread of COVID-19.
This includes observing social distancing and wearing masks.
The Commission appeals to candidates, their agents, and supporters to conduct themselves in accordance with the Law, and the guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission for the by-elections. We should all work together to achieve a credible exercise.
“I call upon the voters to come out early and freely cast their votes. I wish to assure you that the Commission, working with the Uganda Police Force, has made adequate preparations to ensure a peaceful and secure electoral environment. I wish to warn the electorate that any unlawful conduct will be decisively dealt with,” Justice Byabakama.
The Electoral Commission calls upon all stakeholders in this electoral process to participate in the above activities in accordance with the guidelines that were issued for these by-elections.
