With only a few days remaining to the January 15 general elections, the Electoral Commission in Gomba District has received a total of 252 ballot boxes to be used during the polls.
The ballot boxes were delivered on Friday under tight security and officially received by the Gomba District Returning Officer, Ivan Munanula, in the presence of security officials, including the Resident District Commissioner and the District Police Commander.
Community leaders and agents representing different political parties were also present.
According to Munanula, the ballot boxes will be used for voting for the president as well as members of Parliament across the district’s 252 polling stations.
“Today, as Gomba District, we have received 252 ballot boxes corresponding to our 252 polling stations. These ballot boxes are meant for both presidential and parliamentary elections,” Munanula said.
He noted that the delivery process was transparent and witnessed by all key stakeholders.
“The ballot boxes arrived safely at the Gomba District Electoral Commission offices in the presence of the RDC, DPC, party agents, and other key community stakeholders,” he added.
Munanula revealed that three of the 252 ballot boxes were found with broken seals but said the matter was immediately addressed in full view of witnesses.
“Only three boxes had broken seals. New seals were fixed in the presence of all stakeholders, and the boxes were securely stored until polling day on January 15,” he explained.
He also emphasized that enhanced technology will be deployed during the elections to curb electoral malpractice.
“This time round, technology has been improved. No one will be able to tamper with the election process. It is impossible to place unauthorized ballot papers into the boxes,” Munanula said.
The Gomba EC chairperson dismissed claims circulating among the public that voter verification machines are faulty.
“Some people are misleading voters by saying the machines do not work. That is not true. The machines are meant to confirm that a voter is voting at the correct polling station and to ensure that no one votes more than once,” he said.
Munanula urged all eligible voters to turn up in large numbers on polling day.
“I encourage everyone not to stay at home on January 15. Come out and vote because your vote determines the leader you choose,” he said.
According to the Electoral Commission, Gomba District has more than 100,000 registered voters.
