Electoral Commission issues final polling register for Serere by-election alongside tough guidelines  

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has today (Feb.22) issued a final polling register for Serere County Constituency by-election which bears the names of all 74, 394 eligible voters. Out of the total voting number, 53.2% (39, 555) are females, 46.8% (34, 839) are males. 

Polling day is set for tomorrow, Feb.23. “The EC has issued a copy of the voters register to participating candidates to enable them through their official agents, ensure that only eligible persons are allowed to take part in the exercise,” the commission’s Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama said at a meeting with stakeholders ahead of polling day.

“Other than observing the exercise, candidates’ agents shall not be expected to interfere with the polling process,” Byabakama said. “Voting shall begin at 7am (East African Time) and stop at 4pm, and counting, then tallying of votes and announcing the winner will follow.”  

Byabakama further said designated candidates’ agents are advised to report to the Sub-county offices before 6am on the morning of Thursday to observe the dispatch of the polling kits to their respective polling stations.

The Parliamentary seat for Serere County fell vacant following the death of the former Member of Parliament, the Late Hon. Patrick Okabe, in a motor accident on December 19, 2022 along Mbale-Tirinyi Road.

There are five competitors in this by-election including veteran politician, Alice Alaso (from Alliance for National Transformation; Phillip Oucor (National Resistance Movement), Emmanuel Eratu (Forum for Democratic Change), Emmanuel Omoding and Martin Onguruco, all running on the Independent ticket.