By Ahmed Senoga
The Inter Party organization for Dialogue ( IPOD) has urged the electoral commission to release guidelines to be followed to prevent the spread of covid 19 on the polling day especially after voters casting their ballots.
The call has been madeby the IPOD chairperson who also doubles as National Resistance Movement (NRM) secretary general Hon. Justine kasule Lumumba after a closed door meeting with the chairperson of the electoral commission justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama.
The meeting was initiated following the commission’s suspension of campaign meetings in 12 districts due to the increasing number of covid19 cases.
Lumumba noted that the election act allows voters to remain at the polling station but due to the pandemic the electoral commission has the mandate to guide further but unfortunately it has given the subject a deaf ear.
Lumumba’s comments comes after the National unity platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’ continuously mobilization of his supporters to remain at the polling stations after casting their ballots.
In his response Byabakama promised to engage scientists on matter and forge away forward.
IPOD also asked the Electoral Commission to explain how they shall conduct Political activities like training agents in districts where political activities were banned
The Commission suspended Political activities in districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Luwero, Kalungu, Mbarara District and City, Kabarole District including Fort Portal City, Masaka, Jinja, Tororo, Kazo, Kasese and the districts of Buikwe, Buvuma, Mukono and Kayunga which were all classified as super-spreaders of COVID-19.
On the issue of voter location slips ,Lumumba has advised the commission chairperson Justice Byabakama to openly sensitize the masses on the role of these slips other than the circulating rumors that once your don’t have the slips you won’t vote.
Byabakama has also advised the public not to be misled on the vote location slips since they are only aimed at directing voters to their polling stations.
