UGANDA'S FLAWED ELECTIONS: Observers look at credibility of the polls

120. The poll was scheduled to end at 6 p.m. on 10 December. Because of the late start in many districts, the Electoral Commission decided to extend the poll to 2 p.m. on 11 December, and at 5 p.m. broadcast a radio announcement to this effect. At the same time, the announcement directed presiding officers not to commence the count, as previously communicated, even though at a significant number of polling stations everyone wishing to vote there had already done so.

121. The announcement did not come in time to prevent the count taking place in a number of polling stations, and in others it gave rise to immediate fears as to the security of both ballot boxes and polling staff throughout the night. The announcement directed polling staff to stay with ballot boxes in polling stations overnight, and many to whom we spoke were plainly apprehensive as to their personal safety in the absence of adequate arrangements for security. At the request of a number of presiding officers, small military detachments were sent to some polling stations to mount guard during the night. Polling agents, too, sat with the boxes during this time. Some boxes were removed into protective custody, with polling agents being taken along to stay with them.

122. On our visits to polling stations on the morning of 11 December we made a special point of ascertaining the manner In which the ballot boxes had been cared for overnight, and whether any polling agents or polling staff were dissatisfied or suspected that the boxes might have been interfered with.

In no instance was any suggestion of this made to us. There had been in some instances some misunderstandings when the army arrived to protect the ballot boxes, but these had been allayed.

123. Polling on the morning of the 11 December was heavy in those polling stations which had suffered serious delays on the previous day, but there was virtually no polling in many others.
In most polling stations through out the country the count began at or shortly after 2 p.m. on 11 December.

124. Before we leave the question of the poll we would note that the arrangements in the two constituencies in Nebbi proved woefully inadequate.
Ballot papers sufficient for only about three quarters of the voters on the register were distributed to polling stations, with the result that a substantial segment of the electorate was effectively disenfranchised.

Inevitably this gave rise to suggestions that the returning officer may have been selective in determining those areas in .which sufficient supplies of papers would be sent and those areas o which they would not.

125. In the Kampala district, especially in Kampala East and ampala North, allegations were made that polling stations in areas where the DP was known to have considerable support were deliberately supplied with their materials only after others have been served.

Their doubts
Certainly we find it difficult to believe that mere incompetence could account for unconscionable delays in supplying polling materials to polling stations within a few minutes drive of the returning officer's premises. For example, at a polling station at Ntindi, some 15 minutes or so from the heart of Kampala, polling did not commence until 5.50 p.m. We were subsequently informed that the returning officer for Kampala was being questioned by the police.

126. We would also record that at Ndeeba, in Kampala West, the presiding officer was arrested by the police responsible for the polling station there after complaints that he had been accompanying voters into the polling booth and directing them to place their papers in the UPC box.

The alleged actions caused considerable resentment in the vicinity of the polling station and resulted in one of the UPC party agents being assaulted by the crowd.

127. In spite of its small size and the inadequate facilities at its disposal, we were greatly impressed by the calm and efficient manner in which the Uganda Police discharged its duties amidst the pressures and excitement of polling day. Its relations with, and handling of, the enormous crowds of voters were exemplary.