EC chairman: "We are more than ready for LC I Polls"

The chairman of the Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama, has assured the nation that the electoral body is more than ready to conduct polls for LC 1 chairmen which are scheduled for July 10.

Speaking during NBS TV's morning flagship show, Morning Breeze, Byabakama said while he is aware that elections come with all sorts of challenges, they have managed to sort out some of the issues that dogged previous elections.

"We have provided sufficient framework for people to participate in these elections, that’s why we put registration over weekends. For any election to be successful, you must have the support of voters and stakeholders," he said.

He said the number of polling stations is very big because every village is a polling station.

Uganda is estimated to have more than 60,000 villages. Byabakama said about 4,000 villages could miss out on the polls tomorrow due to unforeseen circumstances.

"We have held a meeting and have agreed that all those villages that haven’t been included in this program will get their own program after this is done," Byabakama said.

He said only those on the village register shall cast their vote.

He said: "The primary factor in this election is being on the register, even if you have a huge house that everyone knows about but aren’t on the register, you won’t be able to vote."

The EC chairman said people should not create a link between the voting mode (lining up) and the voter-turn up. LC chairpersons shall be voted by lining up behind the preferred candidate.