[Ugnet] Referendum Poll Draws Few

HEAVY rains in western and central Uganda contributed to the low voter turnout for yesterday's referendum poll.

In Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge and Bundibugyo districts, a heavy morning downpour disrupted the exercise. The Kabarole District Registrar, Ms Molly Mutazindwa, told Daily Monitor that by 7a.m. all was set for the exercise. Some voters braved the rain to cast their votes.

Of the 13 polling stations Daily Monitor visited, most voters had not turned up by 9 a.m.

The Kyenjojo District Registrar, Ms Jacqueline Mburamuhindo, said voters were queuing and ready to cast their votes despite the rain.

The presiding officer at Kyasigireki polling station in Kyankwanzi Sub-county, Mwenge in Kyenjojo district said 74 out of the expected 700 voters had cast their votes by 10 a.m.

The Assistant Returning Officer for Kamwenge district, Mr John Patrick Nuwagaba, said the turnout at most polling stations in the district was encouraging despite the heavy downpour.

He said he was hopeful that by 5 p.m. most voters would have cast their votes.

In Rakai, polling officials at the various stations were sitting idly as they waited for voters.

At most polling stations in Kyotera Town Council, less than 10 voters had cast their votes by 10 a.m.

"It is meaningless. The outcome is already known. I have no reason to waste my time," a boda-boda cyclist, who did not disclose his name, said.

Polling at some stations started late, as the required number of five voters to witness the opening of the ballot boxes could not be realised by 7a.m. when the voting was supposed to start.

In Masaka Municipality, not a single one of the 54 polling stations had registered a 10 percent turnout for the exercise by 1 p.m. Actual voting started late at all polling stations because they had not got the required minimum of witnesses.

At Cinema Cell Polling Station, voting started after 11 a.m. according to the Presiding Officer, Ms Florence Tamale, because of the witnesses requirement. By 12.30 p.m only 15 out of 431 voters had turned up.

At Town Yard Polling Station voting started after 8 a.m. according to the Presiding Officer, Mr Daniel Kiwanuka.

At Kimaanya B Polling Station, only 78 out of the expected 1,083 registered voters had turned up by 11 a.m.

The usual excitement in the entire town during elections was missing. Ms Molly Nakkazi Zawedde, a textile shop owner on Elgin Road said, "I have no clear understanding of the meaning of whatever is going on. Whether I vote the tree or the house Museveni shall be the winner."

Another resident, Ms Esther Birungi, said she did not know what the exercise was all about. "Where will it lead us to?" she asked. "Who will dance and celebrate in the evening when they count the votes?"

There was a poor voter turn out in Mbirizi, Kinoni, Lukaya and Kalungu trading centres.

In Sembabule, the turn out was low because of drought in the region. Most people in Rugasulu and Rwemiyaga were searching for water and pasture for their animals and said they had no time for the poll. However, there was drama at Kakonge polling station when over 100 voters could not vote due to lack of ballot papers. Calm was restored when one of the polling officials, Mr Paul Bwana, rushed to another station and got ballot papers.

In Kabale, people had not turned up by midday saying they had not been properly sensitised about the referendum.

In Kayunga, LC officials were moving door to door urging people to go and cast their vote.

In Kiboga, rain which went on up to 3 p.m, forced most people to stay at home most of the day. To make matters worse, ballot boxes for some polling stations in areas such as Ntunda, Mujunza, Kiryandongo, Bukomero and Nsambya were delayed due to confusion in transportation.

At Watuba station, 150 voters out of 750 had turned up by 3 p.m. In Masodde, only 72 out of 558 voters had turned up by 3 p.m. The majority of those who voted were women. Some of the men who did not vote said there was a lot of confusion in the government and they did not want to waste their time in the referendum.

Kamuli district was not any different. Voting began after midday because people had to till their land in the morning. Some turned up expecting some goodies from the different camps like has always been the case on polling eve. No violent incident was recorded. One old lady reportedly refused to vote because she could not see President Museveni's picture. Persuasion from onlookers could not convince her otherwise.

[Ugnet] Referendum Poll Draws Few

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