Africa-Press – Uganda. #UGDecides2021|NUP|EC
KAMPALA – The National Unity Platform (NUP) party has protested to the Electoral Commission for having been invited late to witness the delivery of the first and second consignments of ballot papers and declaration of results forms, which were delivered from abroad. In their post on their platform, they noted, “Yesterday, at 3:20 pm, we received this letter inviting us to witness the arrival of ballot papers. By the time the letter came, the ballot papers for Woman MP had arrived the previous day and those of the President had arrived at 1:30 pm.” The letter seen by New Vision, from the EC to the Secretary General of the party, was indeed received on December 10, 2020; yet the first batch arrived a day before and the second batch, on the day the Party received the letter.But the letter from EC was dated December 8, 2020; much as it may have been delivered late. This implies that the Party was invited to witness the ballot papers and other materials, which had already been received by the Electoral Commission. On Wednesday (December 9, 2020) evening, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Justice Simon Byabakama said all parties had been invited, but only the Forum for Democratic Change showed up.Attempts to get a comment from the EC chairperson were futile by press time. Genesis Thursday, afternoon; the second batch of election materials to be used in the January 2021 General elections, printed by a foreign firm, was delivered, afternoon in the country. The batch was for Presidential elections, from the foreign printer; United Printing and Publishing of Abu Dhabi, delivered on Emirates Flight 9865.This followed the first delivery, which was made on Wednesday this week; by a foreign firm; Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing Company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This firm won the contract for Lot 2 of the ballot papers for the General Elections”This delivery comprised 116 pallets which contain ballot papers for districts falling in seven (7) electoral regions, namely Kampala, South West, Central South, Elgon, Karamoja, Northern and West Nile.Materials for the five remaining regions are expected within the next few days, which is still within time.Byabakama added that the 116 pallets weighed a total of 40 tons and have been delivered by Emirates Airlines Flight Number EK 9757 at 6 pm. The delivery was observed by agents of some political parties and organisations as well as the media.
