By KT Reporter
Voting in Nakawa East National Resistance Movement-NRM primaries has been delayed due to the complaints from some of the party’s Electoral Commission officials who demanded allowances.
The development has caused disruptions to scheduled activities, including setting up polling stations and conducting voter registration checks, ultimately affecting the timely commencement of official voting.
Some of the polling officials who preferred anonymity said their supervisors had earlier informed them that they were meant to receive an allowance of 50,000 shillings in the morning, only to be informed that they would be paid after polling.
In several polling stations as Jambula polling station and Gate 1-10, both in Bugolobi, where both the highly contesting candidates for the NRM flag, including Frederick Ruhindi and David Kintu, the polling stations were yet to be set up, despite the presence of voters.
According to Hashim Sserwadda, Parish Registrar for Nakawa East overseeing 9 polling stations, there was significant disorganisation by some polling officials whom he supervises declined to work before receiving the allowances.
According to the NRM guidelines, the checking of the register was supposed to start by 10 Am and voting officially starts at midday.
“We’re a bit late, but the voting will commence. Materials are just arriving; as you can see, we’re starting to set up the polling stations. We had an avoidable issue with our staff, but we have resolved the matter,” Sserwadda said.
He said they had to convene a meeting with them, and the issue had been resolved. “The issue of allowances was a concern, but thankfully, it’s been addressed. These agents didn’t attend yesterday’s final training session. However, allowances are paid after work, not before; no one has received an allowance before working,” Sserwadda noted.
Some NRM voters who arrived early were frustrated by the delays and returned home after waiting for hours-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
