Voter verification machines have caused delays in voting in the Dokolo District Woman MP by-election. The Biometric machines failed to work in some of the polling stations, compelling the electoral commission to either replace the faulty ones or seek intervention from IT experts.
At Apenyoweo Primary School ‘A’ Polling Station in Okwongodul Sub County, the Biometric Machine failed to work, leaving more than 30 voters stranded. The voters had to wait for the delivery of another machine which had not yet arrived by 9:02 am.
Ojuka Patrick, a voter and resident of Apenyoweo village says that although they resumed voting after the faulty machine was repaired, it affected some voters who had turned up early to vote.
At Barayom Polling Station, voting started after 9:30 am due to the faulty biometric machine. It took the intervention of the IT technician to fix the machine to allow the polling to kick off.
At Dokolo Primary School in Dokolo Town Council, despite voters turning up in time by 6:30 am, voting could not start because of the faulty machine.
However, at Apenyoweo Primary School B Polling Station, voting started past 8:30 am after the voting materials were taken to another polling station, about 10 kilometres away.
The Electoral Commission Spokesman, Paul Bukenya said that IT experts are rectifying the problems of the machines.
Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesman said that polling is so far moving on smoothly.
There are six candidates for the Dokolo District Woman MP by-election. They are Dr Rosemary Alwoc Ogwal, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party flag bearer who is also the daughter of the deceased MP, 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.
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