Ugandan: Threats will not prevent me from doing my duty - EC boss

The Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, has said threats from individuals, whom he did not name, will not deter him from declaring the winner of tomorrow's presidential election.

The Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, has said threats from individuals, whom he did not name, will not deter him from declaring the winner of tomorrow's presidential election Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine.

Voters

According to the Electoral Commission, about 21.6 million voters are registered to participate in the general election. In the 2021 presidential election, President Museveni garnered 5.4 million votes against Mr Kyagulanyi's 2.5 million.

Security personnel deployment

Addressing concerns about heavy deployment of security forces, Justice Byabakama said the presence of security personnel is meant to ensure peace and stability during the electoral process and should not intimidate voters.

Military premises

He also clarified that no polling stations will be located within military premises. Justice Byabakama acknowledged receiving complaints from the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mr Joel Ssenyonyi, regarding alleged polling stations near military installations, saying the Commission was investigating the matter.

"If we find that it is true, we shall take the necessary measures to address it," he said.

The EC chairperson also announced guidelines governing the conduct of the elections. Among them, voters will not be allowed to appear at polling stations wearing party colours. Voting will begin after at least 10 voters have assembled at a polling station and will run from 7 am to 4 pm.

Vulnerable voters, including the elderly and the visually impaired, will be allowed assistance from trusted persons, though no individual will be permitted to assist more than one voter.

People will also be required to leave polling stations immediately after casting their votes. Campaigning will cease 48 hours before polling day, while radio and television programmes featuring candidates will stop by midnight on Tuesday.

Mandate by law

Justice Byabakama emphasised that the declaration of results is the sole mandate of the Electoral Commission and warned media houses against announcing results. Likewise, bars operating near polling stations will be closed during polling hours, and candidates or supporters will not be allowed to use mobile sound systems or engage in voter bribery at polling stations.

He further assured voters that all election materials will be delivered to polling stations on time.

Kampala region votes

Kampala Capital City, classified by the EC as Kampala Region, together with the districts of Buvuma, Mukono, Wakiso, and Buikwe, make up a 3.7 million voting bloc, the largest in the country.

The NRM party has never won Kampala in the presidential polls, although it used to win some constituencies until the 2021 polls, when NUP ran away with almost all of them. The 2021 EC Election Report shows Mr

Kyagulanyi scooped 394,787 votes, dwarfing the 28,658 votes collected by Mr Museveni in Kampala Capital City.