KAMPALA – The Electoral Commission (EC) has set August 15, 2018 as the date when residents of Arua Municipality will go to the parliamentary polls to replace Ibrahim Abiriga, who was gunned down recently in Kawanda, Wakiso District.
Addressing journalists in Kampala yesterday, the EC chairman, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, set July 5 to July 9 for voter registration while nomination of candidates will be conducted on July 19-20.
“The EC has appointed July 9 as the cut-off date for registration and or transfer of voting locations in Arua Municipality. This exercise will enable Uganda citizens of 18 years and above, who either reside or originate in parishes/wards within Arua Municipality, and who have not had their photographs and bio-data,” he said.
“Nomination of candidates will be conducted on July 19-20 at Arua district headquarters. This will be followed by a five day period where the public will access the candidates’ nomination papers and will be able to lodge complaints, if any, on suitability of the candidates to contest in the by-election,” Justice Byabakama added.
He banned fundraising activities in the municipality with effect from July 9 and warned that any candidate who shall be found fundraising risks being disqualified.
The EC secretary, Sam Rwakoojo, said they spend Shs504m on the by-election and urged candidates and voters to be peaceful. Justice Byabakama said they were to engage stakeholders including security agencies to ensure a peaceful exercise.
Arua Municipality has 45,184 voters and 65 polling stations.
Col Abiriga alongside his brother cum bodyguard, Saidi Kongo, were assassinated by men moving on a motorcycle at Kawanda in Wakiso District at around 7pm.
