Jinja EC Clears Ballot Boxes in Key Pre-Election Verification Exercise

Jinja City is made up of three constituencies, Jinja North, Jinja South East, and Jinja South West, with a combined 185,372 registered voters expected to participate in the elections. Jinja North has the largest voter population at 115,576, followed by Jinja South East with 37,483 voters, while Jinja South West has the least number, standing at 32,313.

E.C chairman Byabakama dispatching ballot papers in Kampala recently

Electoral Commission (EC) officials in Jinja City today conducted a critical verification exercise of ballot boxes ahead of next week’s presidential and parliamentary elections, in a move aimed at reinforcing transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

The Jinja City EC office received and verified a total of 376 ballot boxes, which will be deployed to all polling stations across the city on polling day, scheduled for Thursday, January 15.

Jinja City is made up of three constituencies, Jinja North, Jinja South East, and Jinja South West, with a combined 185,372 registered voters expected to participate in the elections. Jinja North has the largest voter population at 115,576, followed by Jinja South East with 37,483 voters, while Jinja South West has the least number, standing at 32,313.

The City Returning Officer, Flavia Nakasi, said the verification process was conducted in the presence of security personnel and representatives from various political parties, underscoring its credibility.

Nakasi noted that all ballot boxes were found intact and properly sealed, ruling out any signs of tampering before their dispatch. She added that the boxes will be securely stored in a sealed room at the Jinja City EC offices, premises that were jointly inspected by security agencies and political party representatives to ensure the safety of the electoral materials until polling day.

Political party representatives who observed the exercise acknowledged the transparency of the process. Bilal Mugole, the Chairperson of the National Unity Platform (NUP) in Walukuba-Masese Ward, said the verification had been conducted openly, with party leadership kept informed throughout.

However, Mugole expressed concern over potential electoral malpractice, accusing some candidates aligned to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party of relying on influence rather than active campaigning to secure victory. He said NUP vote-protection teams have been trained and deployed to remain vigilant against any attempts at rigging.

Mugole also urged the Electoral Commission to uphold fairness and neutrality, arguing that a transparent process would foster public trust and reduce the risk of unrest at polling stations.

Meanwhile, the NRM administrative secretary for Jinja City, Asuman Kambo, said his party was satisfied with the electoral preparations, describing the process so far as orderly and largely peaceful.

Kambo added that NRM coordination structures, from village to district level, have been strengthened to mobilise voters to turn out in large numbers on polling day. Nakasi reiterated the EC’s commitment to conducting a transparent, free, and peaceful election, assuring the public that all electoral guidelines will be strictly followed to ensure the credibility of the outcome.