Serere district Returning Officer calls for vigilance during register update ahead of by-election

The Returning Officer of Serere District, Sylvia Nangendo Cheptegei, has emphasized the need for continuous stakeholders’ vigilance and engagement for a successful electoral process.

Nangendo made the remarks Monday afternoon at a Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting for the by-election of Member of Parliament for Serere County, Serere District. The meeting was organized by the Electoral Commission (EC).

Serere County MP seat fell vacant following the death of the seat-holder Patrick Okabe. He died in a car crash on 19th December 2022. The accident also claimed the life of his wife.

The EC Chairperson, Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, said that they are required by law to conduct a Parliamentary by-election within sixty days after notification from the Clerk to Parliament on the occurrence of the vacancy.

And upon receiving the notice on 28th December 2022, the EC says the statutory deadline for holding the by-election for Serere County MP is Saturday 25th February 2023. Polling and tallying of results will take place on 23rd February 2023, the Commission reveals.

Byabakama also reveals that the exercise of updating the National Voters Register for the Serere by-election commenced on Friday, 6^th January 2023, and will end tomorrow, Tuesday 10^th January 2023.

“The display of the Voters Register for Serere by-election will take place from 23rd January to 1st February 2023.Voters are encouraged to turn up in big numbers to verify the correctness of their particulars on the Register,” Byabakama said.

“During the display exercise, the Commission will also issue Voter Location Slips (VLS) to voters whose particulars appear on the Polling Register. The VLS will help the voters to conveniently locate their polling stations on polling day,” he added.