By Frank Kamuntu
Kampala: Ugandans will go to the polls today, Wednesday 3rd February 2021, to elect Chairpersons and Directly-elected Councillor & Women Councillors at the Sub County, Town Council, and Municipal Division (also known as LC III) level.
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Voting shall be by secret ballot, beginning at 7:00 am and ending at 4:00 pm, and shall take place at polling stations in the two thousand one hundred and ninety (2,190) Sub Counties, Town Councils and Municipal Divisions, located in the one hundred and thirty-five (135) districts, which have these elective positions. There will not be elections in the ten (10) cities and Kampala Capital City, as they do not have these elective levels.
All persons who are registered as voters, and who present themselves at the polling station where their particulars appear on the National Voters’ Register, will be able to vote during this election.
Different from other elective levels, the ballot paper for Directly-elected Councilors and Women Councilors to the Sub-county/Town Council/Municipal Division will not bear the photograph of the candidates but will have the full names of the candidate, their symbol, and the name of the political party for the party flag bearers.
The ballot paper for the Chairperson will bear the full names of candidates, their colour photograph, the name of the party and symbol, or independent candidates’ symbol, and space where the voter will tick or place a thumbprint as a mark of choice.
Campaigns for this election ended on Monday 1st February 2021.
The elections of Chairpersons and Directly-elected Councillor & Women Councilor at the Sub County, Town Council, and Municipal Division level marks the final national electoral activity under the Roadmap for General Elections 2021.
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Meanwhile, the Commission has set up a Complaints/Query Desk with toll-free lines to enable members of the public to raise any issue related to the polling day activities for expeditious handling by the Electoral Commission. They are 0800300121/0800300122/0800300123/0800300125.
Furthermore, all persons participating in the elections shall be required to comply with guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission in accordance with the Government of Uganda and the Ministry of Health measures against the spread of COVID-19. This includes observing social distancing, hand washing, and the wearing of masks.
