OYAM, UGANDA: The Oyam District Electoral Commission have today received the electoral materials including ballots and boxes as voters gear up for Thursday’s Election to fill the position of the MP for Oyam North County.
The Oyam North MP position seat fell vacant following the assassination of the former legislator and former State Minister for Labour, Col (rtd) Charles Macodwogo Engola who was gunned down by his bodyguard Pte Wilson Sabiti on May 2, 2023.
The Oyam District Returning officer, Mr Richard Onoba while addressing the media on Wednesday at Oyam Town Council offices said that at least 334 polling materials that will be used in the Oyam North Constituency by-elections tomorrow (Thursday) have been successfully delivered.
He said of these, there are 167 black ballot boxes, 167 transparent ballot boxes, voter registers, and Biometric voter verification kits, among others.
Mr Onoba added that the voting materials will be distributed to all the 167 polling stations in Oyam North Constituency before polling kicks off at 7:00 AM.
“Yes, we received polling materials for this by-election and we are now sorting them out for redistribution to the polling stations,” Mr Onoba told DailyExpress on Wednesday morning as he sorted out the materials.
He noted that the materials shall be kept at the Oyam District headquarters where Electoral Commission will tally the By-elections tomorrow.
According to Onoba, all polling assistants and returning officers are ready to conduct the by-election and the voters should turn up early enough for the elections.
“Am asking all the voters to turn up for this important election so that they can choose a leader of their choice. Let them be calm and peaceful,” Onoba said.
Mr Joe Omara, a polling agent of the ruling National Resistance Movement Party who witnessed the sorting of the materials said; “We have actually checked every box, and they are all intact.”
According to the Electoral Commission statistics, Oyam North Constituency has a total of 90,733 registered voters, 167 polling stations, 8 Sub-counties including two Town councils, 41 parishes and two Town halls.
The race to replace the late Engola as Oyam North MP is among four candidates; UPC’s Dr Eunice Apio Otuko, Mr Samuel Engola Okello, a son of the slain minister and NRM’s ticket holder, Mr Newtown Freddy Okello of FDC, and Daniel Okello of the National Unity Platform.
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