Voting materials arrive ahead of Jinja East by-election
Some of the 47 black boxes that were delivered at Jinja EC offices on Wednesday morning. Photo by Philip Wafula
What you need to know:
- High Court judge, Lydia Mugambe, for declaring Mr Mwiru as MP for Jinja East Constituency on July 18, 2016.
- The same Court ordered Nabeta and the EC to pay costs to Mr Mwiru for both the Court of Appeal and in the High Court.
The Jinja District Returning Officer, Rogers Sserunjogi, has confirmed the arrival of an assortment of materials to be used in the Jinja East MP by-election scheduled for tomorrow.
About 28,000 voters across 47 polling stations are expected to participate in the poll that has attracted eight candidates including Mr Nathan Igeme Nabeta (NRM), Paul Mwiru (FDC), Mr Faisal Mayemba, Eng Francis Wakabi, Ms Christine Monica Abuze, Mr Paul Mugaya, Mr Richard Nyanzi and Mr Hatim Isabirye Mugendi – all Independents.
In an interview with Daily Monitor on Wednesday (today), Mr Sserunjogi, said: “All is set for the by-election following the arrival of voting materials this morning at around 10:00am.”
According to Mr Sserunjogi, the equipment in his custody includes; 47 black boxes, 47 transparent boxes and 47 basins - for the 47 polling stations.
He also confirmed the delivery of welfare for the polling officials across the 47 polling stations.
“I appeal to voters to come and vote tomorrow at 7:00am when we open the polling stations. Everything is set, security is available; please keep calm and avoid chaotic scenes as perpetrators will be arrested,” he warned.
The Jinja East MP seat fell vacant after the Court of Appeal in Kampala nullified Nabeta’s February 2016 victory on grounds that he connived with the Electoral Commission (EC) to alter results at Danida A-D polling station which put him at an advantage.
However, in their ruling, justices; Steven Kavuma, Richard Buteera and Paul Mugamba declined to declare Mr Mwiru as MP on grounds that they could not use wrong results to determine the winner of an election and partially faulted High Court judge, Lydia Mugambe, for declaring Mr Mwiru as MP for Jinja East Constituency on July 18, 2016.
The same Court ordered Nabeta and the EC to pay costs to Mr Mwiru for both the Court of Appeal and in the High Court.
