Stakeholders in the Karamoja sub-region have pledged to work closely with the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure transparency, credibility, and the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming elections.
The commitment was made during a one-day EC stakeholders’ meeting held in Moroto, which brought together district leaders, security officials, election observers, religious leaders, civil society actors, and other key players in the electoral process.
Opening the meeting, the Regional Electoral Commission Officer for Karamoja, Linos Lima Okori, emphasized that the Commission’s core mandate is to deliver free, fair, and credible elections. He called on all stakeholders to play their respective roles responsibly.
“The role of the Electoral Commission is to ensure a credible election. Elections come every five years, and we must ensure they are peaceful and do not destroy our country,” Okori said.
“Our door is open to handle any emerging complaints. The EC does not work in isolation; we work with all stakeholders who can help address concerns.”
Participants were also taken through a practical demonstration by the EC IT support team on the use of Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs), aimed at strengthening confidence in the voting process.
Moroto District IT Support Officer, Deus Tumwesigye, explained that biometric verification is mandatory before voting.
“Every voter must be verified using the BVVK before casting a ballot,” Tumwesigye said. “Each polling station is provided with two biometric machines as a backup, as well as a power bank in case of low battery. The machines can operate offline, even in areas with poor network coverage.”
However, some participants raised concerns about the conduct of certain election officials. John Nangiro warned that perceived bias among polling officials could undermine the credibility of the elections.
“Some election officials are not impartial and tend to support one candidate over another, which could affect the results,” Nangiro said.
In response, Okori reassured participants that all polling officials are recruited on merit and undergo thorough training.
“All polling officials are qualified and trained. If there is any misconduct, it should be reported for appropriate action. No one is above the law,” he said.
Kaabong LC5 Chairperson and MP aspirant, Meri Jino, questioned whether the current electoral system is sufficient to prevent ballot stuffing.
“Can ballot stuffing really be prevented with this system? The EC must ensure it does not happen because it undermines the entire process,” Jino said.
Andrew Leru from Amudat District emphasized the importance of trust and collaboration among all actors involved in the electoral process.
“Polling agents must be trusted, and stakeholders should work hand in hand with election officials to ensure a credible outcome,” Leru noted.
By the close of the meeting, participants unanimously pledged to collaborate with the Electoral Commission to promote transparency, accountability, and peaceful elections across the Karamoja sub-region.
