IPOD asks EC to issue special guidelines for polling date.

By Olivia Nabaggala

4^th January 2021

The Inter Party organization for Dialogue (IPOD) wants the Electoral Commission to release guidelines to be followed on the polling day to prevent spread of Covid-19.

This was disclosed by the Chairperson of IPOD Justine Kasule Lumumba after their closed meeting with the chairperson of the Electoral Commission Justice Simon Byabakama arising from the suspension of campaign meetings in 12 districts due to the increasing number of covid19 cases.

Lumumba told reporters that though the election Act allows voters to remain at the polling station after voting, the EC has the mandate to release guidelines to safeguard Ugandans from the pandemic of which the commission has not done yet.

These comments come at a time when the National unity platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine has continuously mobilized his supporters to remain at the polling stations after casting their votes.

The parliamentary election Act 2005, about the polling and polling procedure, states that, voters who have cast their votes and all other persons in the vicinity of the polling station other than election officers, candidates, candidates’ agents and observers shall stand or sit at least 20 meters away from the table at which each voter is to place the authorized mark of choice.

On the issue of voter location slips, Lumumba has advised Byabakama to openly sensitize the public on the role of the voters’ slips other than depending on rumors that once one doesn’t get the slips he or she won’t vote which Byabakama promised to do.

Meanwhile Lumumba has disclosed that NRM’s party flag bearer Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in these remaining days to the elections is to go back to some districts like Kisolo,Yumbe, Mityana ,Kasanda among others to re-assure the electorate that he is the only candidate to serve Uganda and also canvass for votes for the party flag bearers.