By George Bukenya
As National Resistance Movement (NRM) party members warm up for their primary elections, the party’s Electoral Commission Chairman Dr. Tanga Odoi warns errant aspirants who have issued fake declaration forms and those who have decided to buy off National IDs from voters.
While addressing reporters on Wednesday at his Kyadondo based office, Dr. Tanga said in Ntungamo Municipality, one of the candidates whom he didn’t mention was allegedly colleting National IDs from NRM supporters in the area in exchange for money. Jinja City, Nakaseke North, Mbale City, Ssebabule , Tororo County and Rwengo some candidates have printed declaration fake forms.
“We have received information and complaints for some of the aspirants from those mentioned areas but I warn aspirants that it’s will not help them to win elections because our system has closed all avenues leading to malpractices,’’ Dr. Tanga asserted.
“Aspirants should avoid manipulating our district commissioners/ registrars because they must act in a neutral way in order to have smooth primaries.’’
He also said that the election materials have been already dispatch especially to the far to reach areas and by press time only for Wakiso and Kampala was yet to be dispatched.
According to Dr. Tanga, election process will start at 10:00 when the voters will assemble at places where each village carries out its barazas, they will be verified and those without National IDs there will senior residents of the area to identify them as citizens and are supporters of NRM.
Real voting will start at mid-day sharp and voter will be lining up behind the candidate or his/her portrait, each candidate is required to have agents who must have play cards with the aspirant’s photo vividly seen. Counting and declaration of winner must be done immediately, the EC official will enter the result into the declaration form take a picture and sent it to the headquarters.
A record total of 2,800 candidates expressed interest of these only 740 are vying for LC V chairperson positions the rest are members of parliament aspirants.