UGANDA: The Country goes into Polls; Vote Count has started
The country went into polls on Thursday 18th
February 2016 to elect the President, Parliament seats and local government
seats for the next five years.
February 2016 to elect the President, Parliament seats and local government
seats for the next five years.
According to some reports, the Electoral
Commission of Uganda (ECU) has started the counting of votes, an exercise expected
to last for about 48 hours.
Commission of Uganda (ECU) has started the counting of votes, an exercise expected
to last for about 48 hours.
Some media reported that balloting was delayed at
some polling stations in the capital, Kampala, because election materials
arrived late.
some polling stations in the capital, Kampala, because election materials
arrived late.
Earlier on before the voting started there were
some reports that the country’s
communications regulator shut down some social media to stop further campaigning.
some reports that the country’s
communications regulator shut down some social media to stop further campaigning.
President Museveni, 71, is seeking another term in
a race widely seen as the tightest in Ugandan’s history. The country went into
polls on Thursday 18th February to elect a president who will lead
the country for the next five years.
a race widely seen as the tightest in Ugandan’s history. The country went into
polls on Thursday 18th February to elect a president who will lead
the country for the next five years.
Eight Presidential candidates are gunning for
presidency including one female. Incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, leader of
the ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM), is contesting his fifth
term in office. There are no term limits on Presidential candidates in Uganda.
The President’s most prominent opposition is Kizza Besigye, a retired colonel, is
running for the fourth time on the ticket of the largest opposition party, the
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
presidency including one female. Incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, leader of
the ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM), is contesting his fifth
term in office. There are no term limits on Presidential candidates in Uganda.
The President’s most prominent opposition is Kizza Besigye, a retired colonel, is
running for the fourth time on the ticket of the largest opposition party, the
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
Museveni is also facing his long-time advisor
Amama Mbabazi, a former Prime Minister and former NRM Secretary General between
2010 and 2014. Other contesters include Abed Bwanika (People’s Development
Party), Benon Biraaro (Uganda Farmers Party), Venansius Baryamureeba, Joseph
Mabirizi and Maureen Kyalya each running as an independent candidate.
Amama Mbabazi, a former Prime Minister and former NRM Secretary General between
2010 and 2014. Other contesters include Abed Bwanika (People’s Development
Party), Benon Biraaro (Uganda Farmers Party), Venansius Baryamureeba, Joseph
Mabirizi and Maureen Kyalya each running as an independent candidate.
ECU report stated that the number of registered
voters for this general election is 15,294,070. This is the 3rd multi-party
election since the introduction of multi-party political system in the country in
the year 2005.
voters for this general election is 15,294,070. This is the 3rd multi-party
election since the introduction of multi-party political system in the country in
the year 2005.
Before the polling date, the country held its
Second Televised Presidential Debate on Saturday February 13, 2016 at Serena
Hotel in Kampala on which President Museveni also participated. The focus of
the second debate was topics on foreign policy, economy and national security.
Second Televised Presidential Debate on Saturday February 13, 2016 at Serena
Hotel in Kampala on which President Museveni also participated. The focus of
the second debate was topics on foreign policy, economy and national security.
The first televised Presidential debate in the
Ugandan history was held on Friday January 15, 2016 bringing on board all Presidential
candidates except President Museveni. Topics such as Uganda’s growing national
debt, corruption, education and job creation were at the center of all
candidates’ manifestos.
Ugandan history was held on Friday January 15, 2016 bringing on board all Presidential
candidates except President Museveni. Topics such as Uganda’s growing national
debt, corruption, education and job creation were at the center of all
candidates’ manifestos.
By Jacinta W.
Odongo; Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
Odongo; Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
