The opposition chickened away from receiving and witnessing the arrival of the Member of Parliament Ballot papers that were flown in from South Africa on Sunday aboard an Ethiopian cargo flight ET332 at approximately 2116hrs (09:16pm). The ballot papers which were printed by Paarl Media a South African company also included ballots for LCV Directly elected women councilors. All opposition political parties didn’t surface or even send their representatives at Entebbe International Airport to verify and witness the arrival of the 227 pallets that contained 19,783,500 ballots both for the Parliamentary candidates and directly elected LCV Women councilors. The head of the Election Management at the Electoral Commission Joshua Wamala revealed that all the 227 pallets weighed a total 78.8 tonnes and that the last shipment of 6 pallets containing ballots for Sub County Chairpersons and councilors is scheduled to arrive soon from the United Kingdom.
The ballot papers have been coming in part shipments because the printing contracts were awarded to different firms. Today we have received 227 pallets aboard the ET flight containing 19, 783,500 ballot papers for the Members of Parliament and directly elected LCV women councilors at a weight of 78.8 tonnes. So far the process is smooth and transparent though the opposition hasn’t been present to witness and verify the ballots Joshua Wamala stated.
Herbert Ddungu Ssewanonda and Matovu Vianney Ngoma from the FRONASA Veterans Association and representing the public at the EC as observers expressed their satisfaction with the Electoral commission’s preparation and arrival of the ballots at Entebbe International Airport.
We have witnessed the genuineness of the arrival and inspection of ballots. All the pallets are intact and there is no breakage. We as representatives of the public and citizenry are satisfied with the whole process and the Electoral Commission for it’s impartiality,Matovu Vianney Ngoma disclosed.
Earlier on 10 pallets containing ballots for directly elected district councilors arrived aboard Emirates flight at 1404hrs. Other Electoral Commission officials present during the arrival of the ballots included Tom Buruku.
