Legislators on the Parliamentary Committee of Legal Affairs have today queried officials of the Electoral Commission (EC), National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), and Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) over the challenges faced during voter registration.
A meeting between the Legal Affairs Committee and representatives from EC, NIRA, and UBOS revealed that NIRA provided the Electoral Commission with absolute equipment procured in 2014, which has hindered the smooth registration process
Justice Simon Byabakama, the Electoral Commission Chairman, explained that the commission is facing difficulties due to the lack of necessary equipment. As a result, they have to rely on NIRA’s aged equipment, which they utilize on a rotational basis.
Additionally, even the 35,000 iPads from UBOS have not been confirmed for use in the election and have been sent to experts for assessment.
The committee has also raised concerns about NIRA employees being used to register voters, which may compromise the independence of the Electoral Commission.
MPs have also criticized the procedure of changing polling stations, citing difficulties for voters who need to switch polling stations
Opposition MPs have registered fears on introducing ISO security operatives in electoral matters to verify voter citizenship, alleging that they will bring politics into the process and prevent those who don’t support the government from registering.
The Electoral Commission has been urged to extend the voter registration plan if the process is not going smoothly.
