Election Roadmap a success – Kiggundu

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has said that the 2016 Election Roadmap is a success.
Addressing election observers at a briefing held today in Kampala, EC Chairman Eng Badru Kiggundu, noted that the Commission has benefited so much form the roadmap since its incorporation in 2015, and attributed the achievements of the 2016 electoral process to the work plan.
“We are proud of it (roadmap), it received support from all stakeholders. The campaign programme has been paramount in promoting democracy,’ he said, and thanked all stakeholders for the support rendered to the electoral body.
The Commission released the 2016 Election Roadmap in April 2015, with the aim of harmonizing the electoral process including updating data at polling stations and on the national voters register.
Kiggundu refuted claims that the body had conscripted people into the register. “All the data was brought to EC. We went and updated the register to capture those who missed. People were not conscripted, they voluntarily agreed to register at their polling stations,” he said.
He also cited the introduction of the Biometric Voter Verification Devices and Polling Location Slips as some of the successes. “Biometric machines were secured for all polling stations and we even have a buffer in case of emergency. The public tested them,”Kiggundu expressed.
He however, noted that there had been challenges especially regarding the issue nationality for people staying around the border regions of the country, but hastened to add that the Commission was trying to contain the challenges. “We have challenges in border control and countries surrounding Uganda; some of them are green areas. They are being rescreened to see if they are Ugandans.”
The EC boss also urged all observers to be objective and work in harmony with all key players in the electoral process.
Beginning Thursday, over 15 million Ugandans will head to the polls to elect candidates to fill the 63,603 positions, including the President.
And Kiggundu reiterated that presidential results of the February 18 polls will be declared by the IEC Chairman at the national tally center at Namboole Stadium.