As campaigns wrapped up on Tuesday for the January 22 Busia LC-V chairperson by-election, the Electoral Commission announced they were largely peaceful.
At a press conference on Tuesday at the EC head office in Kampala, the Chairman, Badru Kiggundu said, “Following a successful observance of the parking of ballot papers by agents of political parties today, the commission is dispatching the polling kits for Busia district today, Tuesday, January 20 2015,” a media statement signed by Kiggundu partly reads.
The campaigns he said, “…have been largely peaceful and I want to commend the candidates, the campaign agents, the voters and all other key stakeholders for this achievement.”
Kiggundu said administrative, logistical and security arrangements had been completed to ensure that all polling stations have their materials, and open on time for polling.
“Designated candidates’ agents are advised to report to the Sub-County offices before 6.00am on the morning of 22 January, 2015 and observe the dispatch of the polling kit to the respective polling stations,” the statement says further.
Each political party/candidate has been advised to appoint a maximum of two agents per polling station to avert congestion.
“These agents should [strictly] represent the interests of their party/independent candidates at the polling station and should not interfere will the polling process,” Kiggundu said.
The LC-V seat fell vacant after the court of Appeal upheld a lower court’s decision that kicked former chairman Ouma Adea out of office. Although President Museveni had visited the district to campaign for NRM’s Stephen Wanyama Oundo, the opposition has also backed Deo Hasubi Njoki (DP) to win the poll.
EC has instituted a complaints desk at the Busia district council hall to address any emerging issues. The hall will also double as the venue for tallying and declaration of the results from the 220 polling stations.
