Voting kicks off in Dokolo amid delays

Dokolo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Voting in the Dokolo Woman MP by-elections kicked off this morning amidst the late arrival of voters.

At most of the polling stations visited by our reporters, voting started after 7:30 am due to the delayed turnup of voters to witness the opening of the materials.

At Angwecibange B and C Primary School Polling Stations located in Central Ward in Dokolo Town Council, voting had not started by 8:02 am.

By 8:00 am, at Angwecibange C polling station, only five voters had turned up to cast their votes. Sandra Aliao, the Presiding Officer says that they cannot proceed until at least 10 voters turn up to witness the opening of the voting materials. There are 558 registered voters in the station.

In Agwata Town Council, Hassan Memorial Primary School Polling Station had only eight voters present by 7:01 am while Amuda Primary School polling station had only six voters at 7:31 am.

However, in Adagwo Primary School in Adok Sub County, voting started at 7:00 am. Patrick Bwonyo, one of the voters there said he cast his vote at 7:56 am.

Although the voters came early to Atur CoU Polling Station in Dokolo Sub County, voting started around 7:45 am after the voting materials were delivered to the station at 7:08 am.

Six candidates are contesting in the by-election. They are Dr Rosemary Alwoc Ogwal, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party flag bearer who is also the daughter of the late Cecilia Ogwal, Sarah Aguti of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party, Janet Rose Adongo Elau of NRM, Harriet Ageno of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Dr. Esther Akullo Obot Otada and Rebecca Arao- both independents.

There are 95,683 registered voters in Dokolo expected to cast their votes among the five contenders now remaining in the ballot paper.

******

URN