Forum for Democratic Change candidate and front runner for the Jinja East constituency by-election Mr Paul Mwiru is contesting the current voters’ register saying it has been inflated with 2,072 ghost voters. He argues that the ghosts are already registered voters in the neighbouring districts.
Mwiru contends that during the 2016 General Elections Voter Register, had 26,421 Voters, the chairman of the commission while announcing the election road map for Jinja Municipality East Constituency, announced 28,493 as the number of voters on the voter register with a variance of 2,072 ghost voters. There 47 polling stations in Jinja East constituency.
In press statement issued in Jinja today, Mwiru said, and EC and NIRA staff believed to have a blood relationship with his arch rival in the race NRM’s Nathan Nabeta Igeme have tampered with the register.
“The purpose of this press conference is notify the Electoral Commission and NIRA, that the fraud being perpetuated by them is against the mandate of the commission and NIRA, and the same should not be condoned unless the commission is to be operated as a fraud organization,” reads the statement in part.
Mwiru expressed his concerns that the state through the Electoral Commission is on a full scale mission to rig the Jinja East by-Election by manipulating the voter register.
He further challenged NIRA to come clean and publish the 1,354 persons realized out of the update process of the Jinja Municipality East National Identification Register from the 2016 General Elections to 3rd February 2018.
“Finally I call upon the Electoral Commission to expunge fraudulently procured ghost voters not based on the National Identification Register for Jinja Municipality East on the Jinja Municipality East voter register.”
The EC said they will respond to Mr Mwiru’s concerns by Tuesday next week.
The Jinja East constituency fell vacant following the court of Appeal nullification of Igeme Nabeta Nathan as winner in the 2016 election. Mwiru successfully challenged his victory.
At least 8 people are contesting in the by-election set for March 15, 2018.
PRESS RELEASE
28th February 2018
WHERAS Article 61 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda is to the effect that the functions of the Electoral Commission is to ensure that elections are free and fair, and to compile ,maintain, revise and update the voters register;
WHEREAS the Electoral Commission partially, surrendered its Mandate of compiling and updating the Voter register to National Identification Registration Authority {NIRA}.
WHEREAS the continuous registration of voters is now done by NIRA, under the supervision of the Electoral Commission which was the basis of retiring the old register by the Electoral Commission citing Section 62 of the Person Registration Act,
WHEREAS the 2016 General Elections Voter Register, had 26,421 Voters, the Chairman of the Commission while announcing the election road map for Jinja Municipality East Constituency, announced 28,493 as the number of voters on the voter register with a variance of 2,072 ghost voters.
WHEREAS the update process brought about 698 newly registered voters; 656 registered voters captured by NIRA as on the 3rd February 2018 hence an update total of 1,354 voters,
It has come to my attention that the Electoral Commission through its officer a one Namugera P. The head IT at the Electoral Commission and one Jacob Wakabi brother to Igeme Nathan Samson Nabeta and a NIRA staff at Iganga fraudulently registered 2,072 already registered Voters in neighboring Districts for purposes of voting in the upcoming by election which has an effect of subverting the will of the People of Jinja Municipality East.
The purpose of this press conference is notify the Electoral Commission and NIRA, that the fraud being perpetuated by the staff of the Electoral Commission and NIRA, is against the mandate of the Commission and NIRA,and the same should not be condoned unless the Commission is to be operated as a fraud organization.
To inform the General Public that the National Resistance Movement {NRM} through the Electoral Commission is on a full scale mission to rig the Jinja East by Election by manipulation of the voter Register.
TO call upon NIRA to come clean and publish the 1,354 persons realized out of the update process of the Jinja Municipality East National Identification Register from the 2016 general elections to 3rd February 2018.
And finally to call upon the Electoral Commission to expunge fraudulently procured ghost voters not based on the National Identification Register for Jinja Municipality East on the Jinja Municipality East voter register
MWIRU PAUL – PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE FOR JINJA MUNI. EAST
