Uganda’s Electotral Commission has extended the deadine for the National General update of the voters’ register that was supposed to end on Wednesday 11th December 2019.
This was revealed by the EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, saying that the deadline was extended for five more days due to high demand.
“However, due to higher numbers of applicants at the update centers since the beginning of this week, and requests from key stakeholders in the electoral process, the Electoral Commission has found it necessary and taken a decision to extend the update period, which was scheduled to close on Wednesday 11th December 2019, for five (5) more days, starting from Thursday 12th and ending Monday 16th December 2019, after which, there will be no further extension,” Byabakama said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Last week, the Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah has urged the Electoral Commission to review the on-going voter verification exercise to ensure all eligible people vote in the 2021 general elections.
The EC last month started the General Update of the National Voters’ Register, in villages across the country to enable potential voters to confirm their intention to participate in the elections, and where they intend to vote from, for example, place of residence or district of origin. EC warned that those who do not adhere to the process risk not voting.
According to Byabakama, this exercise will continue to be conducted at update stations in each parish throughout Uganda, starting from 8:00am to 6:00pm, throughout the extended period, including weekends.
He emphasized that this is not a fresh registration of voters but an exercise to enable Ugandan citizens who have attained the age of 18 years and above and who have not yet registered to register as voters in order to participate in elections.
:Please note that such a voter who wishes to transfer to a new voting location must present confirmation that he/she originates from or is, at the time of application for transfer, a resident of the Parish of that (new) voting location. Such applicants should ensure they have details of their previous voting location,” Byabakama said.
The Electoral Commission has availed the National Voters’ Register for each polling station at the Update center in each parish, so that existing voters check and confirm their registration status, that is, whether their particulars are well-captured.
He also warned officials extorting money from participants saying the commission condemns the act.
“The Electoral Commission has noted, with concern, reports of alleged extortion of money by some local leaders and update officials from applicants in order to sign on their applications before processing the applications. This is illegal, and the Commission strongly condemns it.”
