KAMPALA – The Electoral Commission has come out to respond to the various stakeholders who have been concerned about the condition of some polling kits which were delivered to districts with broken seals.
Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon the Chairperson of the Commission has categorically stated that seals on some of the polling kits broke during the transportation from the Commission’s main warehouse in Kampala to the respective district facilities.
“The breakage is a result of impact of stacked metal boxes sealed with plastic seals, pressing against each other, during transportation.”
To ensure integrity and transparence of the process, the commission has assured stakeholders that any box that will be found with a broken seal during offloading shall get a replacement.
All polling contents of the polling kit are supposed to be intact up to the polling day.
The polling kit includes; Two (2) spare seals to take care of emergency (breakage) during transportation, Ballot Papers (sealed), Declaration Results Forms (sealed), Polling Register (National Voters’ Register for the respective Polling Stations), Generic Polling Forms which include Accountability of Ballot Papers, Official Report Book, among others like the ink pad, indelible ink, pens.
Arcording to the rules of the electoral process in Uganda the polling kit is supposed to remain sealed up to the time of delivery at the polling station and it is only the Presiding Officer to open it, on the morning of polling day, and in the presence of ten (10) registered voters at the respective polling station.
Justice Byabakama has urged political parties and candidates to appoint agents to observe the safe custody of the polling kit, until the same is delivered to the respective polling stations on polling day.
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