OYAM, UGANDA: The Uganda Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugyenyi has issued fresh guidelines to be followed in Thursday’s By-Election to refill the position of the Oyam North County Member of Parliament.
Justice Byamukama who was speaking to journalists and stakeholders of the commission in Oyam on Wednesday sounded a strong warning to all the numberless vehicles not to move around the electoral area as they will be apprehended by the security personnel.
“Tomorrow we don’t want to see any numberless vehicles moving around,” Mugyenyi warned.
“The distribution of the materials will take place at all the 167 polling stations and polling agents, and political parties are encouraged to go and witness,” he added.
DailyExpress earlier reported how electoral materials that were received on Wednesday were to be distributed as early as 4:00 AM in the morning of Thursday.
Every candidate according to Mugyenyi is required to deploy at least two agents per polling station.
“Vote militia and protectors are not needed at polling stations. We don’t want any chaos in Oyam,” added the EC boss.
The Commission also established a Query/Complaints Desk at the Oyam District Council Hall for purposes of receiving and handling any complaints that may arise during the by-elections.
According to Byabakama, the Complaints Desk will operate on polling day, from 7 am to 4 pm.
“The Commission encourages each political party/independent candidate to appoint an official agent to sit with Commission officials at this desk, to ease the handling of any query and/or complaint that may arise,” Byabakama said.
The following telephone numbers were provided by the Commission to enable the electorate to raise any issue of concern for prompt handling; (i) 0800 300121 (Toll-free number), (ii) 0800 300122 (Toll-free), and (iii) 0392 004530 (Not-toll free – chargeable number).
DailyExpress has learnt that the final tallying centre of the vote count will be held inside the council hall of Oyam Town Council with the winner expected to be announced by Thursday midnight.
There are 90,733 registered voters out of which 47,939 are female and the remaining 42,794 are male in the Six sub-counties, two Town councils, and 41 parishes that makeup Oyam North.
The race for filling the void left by late Minister Col (rtd) Charles Engola is among four candidates who will appear on the ballot boxes of Thursday 6th July.
These are Dr Apio Otuko Eunice, the flag bearer of UPC, Okello Freddy Newton (FDC), Samuel Okello Engola Junior, the son of former minister and NRM Flag Bearer, and Daniel Okello of National Unity Platform.
The Electoral Commission stakeholders meeting was attended by Tanga Odoi (NRM Electoral Chairperson), UPC Secretary General UPC Fred Ebil Ebil, Oyam RDC William Komakech, North Kyoga Region RPC, CP Obura Drop, Police PRO North Kyoga Region SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, NRM Vice Chairman in Oyam, Mr Abila Martin Vice, and a section of various Electoral Commission officials and supervisors.
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