Polls for workers MPs in balance as towns, divisions vote today

Polling assistants supervise voting at a polling station in Kampala last week. Photo by Dominic Bukenya.  

Kampala. The 2016 general elections will climax with the election of divisional chairpersons and directly elected councilors today in the municipalities around the country.
However, the election of new workers’ representatives in the 10th Parliament still hangs in the balance after ministry of Gender and the Electoral Commission indicated there is no money to organise the polls.

Gender minister Muruli Mukasa and State minister for Youth Evelyn Anite told the House yesterday the Ministry of Finance had not provided that the required funds to hold the elections but added they had forwarded the 2016 election roadmap to Electoral Commission.
When contacted, Mr Muruli Mukasa told Daily Monitor that Shs3.5b was urgently needed to enable the Electoral Commission conduct the polls.
Asked why Ministry of Finance did not provide for the election of workers MPs, the junior Finance minister, Mr Fred Omach, said he was busy with his re-election and promised to consult his seniors at the Ministry to establish what’s going on.

However, divisional elections including the election of municipality or city division chairpersons, directly-elected councillors, and women councillors will go as planned across the country today.
According to the Electoral Commission public relations officer, Mr Jotham Taremwa, there will be no public holiday as it had been in the recently concluded polls.
Last week’s mayoral elections were marked with a very low turnout as compared with the February 18 presidential election where the turnout was high.

The low turn up at the polls for the local council elections countrywide was mainly attributed to people’s disappointment in the Electoral Commission’s capability of carrying out free and fair elections.
With the declining trend of voter numbers at the previous polls, one can only hope for a healthy turnout at the different polling stations in Kampala’s city divisions as well as the rest of Uganda.

According to a statement issued by the EC chairman Badru Kiggundu, municipality polls will start at 7am and close at exactly 4pm. Results will be declared after the counting process has adequately been carried out.
The police and army have maintained deployment in major towns around the country following the presidential elections.
Some of the hotly contested areas include Kiira Municipality in Wakiso District where six candidates are vying for the position including Mr Joseph Makumbi, Mr Julius Mutebi, Mr Robinson Ogwal, Mr Eddie Mukwaya, Mr Paul Kaweesi, and Mr Richard Kiyengo.

In Kiira Division mayoral race, five contestants are tussling it out including; Godfrey Kakomo, Gerald Kizito, Patrick Katuramu, Paul Mubiru, Fred Mayanja
The Bweyogerere mayoral race is contested by Mr Patrick Kiberu, Mr Julius Tamale, Mr Ali Nsubuga, Mr Apollo Mugalula while Mr David Mugabya and Mr Jonathan Kasibante are in the race for the Namugongo Division mayoral seat.

In talks: When contacted yesterday, Electoral Commission spokesperson, Mr Jotham Taremwa said they were in talks with Ministry of Gender to jointly organise the polls.

Yasin Mugerwa, Ebber Aturinde & Albert Tumwine

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com