Introduction

Our esteemed partners, members of the press,

It is my privilege and pleasure to welcome you to our press briefing today. On behalf of

the Electoral Commission, I would like to thank you for the good work you are doing of

informing the country and the world at large about the electoral process in Uganda.

Today, the Commission would like to update the public concerning the progress we have

made in processing returns from the update exercise, as well as other issues related to the

preparations for the 2011 General Elections.

Condolence Message to the People of Uganda

The Commission, Management and Staff of the Electoral Commission were deeply

saddened on hearing the news of the death of several dozen people, both Ugandan citizens

as well as foreign nationals as a result of bomb explosions that hit Kampala City on the

night of Sunday 11th July 2010.

We therefore, wish to extend our deepest condolences to the families that lost loved ones.

Our sincere condolences also go to the people and government of Uganda, for the loss of

such promising young men and women, some of whom are voters.

Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, just know that you are very

close in our every thought and prayer. We join with the rest of the nation to stand with you

through these trying moments, and pray that God of Comfort may comfort you all.

We join to condemn the use of violence to advance a cause, whatever it may be, and call

on all fellow Ugandans, as well as people all over the world, to always use peaceful means

to express their views.

May the souls of all our deceased brothers and sisters rest in eternal peace.

Uganda Voter Registration Data Upload Statistics as at 13th July 2010

Following the conclusion of the exercise for Update of the National Voters’ Register on

18th June 2010, the Commission commenced with processing of the captured data.

By Tuesday 13th July 2010, 4,670,585 voters (97% of returns from update) had so far been

uploaded on the Commission database.

This provisional figure of 4,670,585 has the following categories of applicants:

No. Category Applicants Percentage

1. Applications for registration as new voters 4,290,634 91.9%

2. Applications for transfer of voting location 326,609 7%

3. Applications for re-take of missing

photographs

53,342 1.1%

Total 4,670,585 100%

The upload of data on the central server is still ongoing and the figures indicated above

have not yet been subjected to duplicate analysis.

Preparations for Display of the National Voters’ Register

The Commission is making progress in preparation for the Field Display of Voters’

Register at each polling station in Uganda, which is scheduled to commence on

Wednesday August 11th until Tuesday August 31st 2010 at each District Office.

As part of preparations for the exercise, the Commission advertised job positions for

24,000 officials to conduct the exercise and the deadline for receiving these applications

shall be Friday 16th July 2010.

Concerning Allegations of use of EC Equipment to Register Party Members

There have been allegations in some local media outlets that the Commission has lent out

its voter registration equipment to certain political parties to enable them register their

supporters/members in preparations for the 2011 General Elections.

The Commission categorically denies this allegation.

The Commission concluded the exercise of update of the National Voters’ Register on 18th

June, 2010 and retrieved all the equipment from the field to Kampala. We have all the

equipment in our stores, and on completion of the necessary data transfer, it shall be

transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The use of similar bio-metric equipment by some other organisations does not mean the

Electoral Commission is involved, since we do not have the monopoly over the

importation and use of such technology.

Concerning the Election of Interim District Chairpersons in newly-created Districts

(S.182, Local Government Act (Cap 243)

The Electoral Commission concluded the programme for election of Interim District

Chairpersons in the new districts which became operational effective 1st July 2010.

Twenty-two districts were able to hold their elections for Interim Councils on 7th July

2010, while Bulambuli (formerly part of Sironko District) and Ntoroko (formerly part of

Bundibugyo District) held their elections on Tuesday 13th July 2010.

The Election of Interim Chairperson for Luuka District shall be held on Thursday, 15th

July 2010.

District Winning Candidate Status

1. Bulambuli Kibere Patrick (NRM) Unopposed

2. Ntoroko Kyamanywa Timothy Mugera (NRM) Unopposed

Concerning Delays in Payment for Field Election Officials

The Electoral Commission has noted with concern, the anxiety caused by the delay to pay

field officials, who were recruited to perform various tasks under the Roadmap for the

2010-2011 General Elections, namely Parish Supervisors, Sub County Supervisors and

Update Officers.

The delay to effect payment of the salaries has been partly due to the following reasons:

1. The delay by some officials to open and submit their bank account details to the

Electoral Commission.

2. A considerable amount of time was required to compile, verify and execute a clean

pay-roll for all Supervisors (Sub County and Parish) and Enrollment Officers ;

3. The closure of accounts by Bank of Uganda for end of F/Y to undertake budgetary

re-adjustment and reconciliation affected all government ministries and

departments.

4

All the above have been resolved, and the payment for all concerned officials now awaits

final processing stages at the Bank of Uganda, which will then pass it on to the

beneficiaries through their respective bank accounts in any case not later than 15th August,

2010.

As the appointment letters for the above officials clearly indicated, the Commission shall

pay all their monies as stated in their Terms and Conditions of Service.

The Commission, however, regrets any inconveniences caused by the delay, and wishes to

thank all those affected for their patience and understanding.

Conclusion

The Commission would like to assure the people of Uganda, and all our partners in the

electoral process, that the Roadmap for the 2010-2011 General Elections is on course. We

are committed to accomplishing all our planned electoral activities on time.

I call upon our various stakeholders to play their respective roles to support and participate

in this process.

I thank you,

For God and my Country,

Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu

Chairperson, Electoral Commission Uganda