The Electoral Commission has officially released its plans and road which will cost the national budget 868 billion shillings in the 2021 general elections planned to be held between January 11 and February 9, 2021. The elections will include Presidents, Members of parliament, LC chairperson and councillors all over the country according to Simon Byabakama the current Electoral Commission chairperson.
While unveiling the election road map and strategic plan 2020-2021 in Kampala yesterday, Justice Simon Byabakama noted that, the commission considered and revised perspectives from both local and international election observers raised in the past election.
“The recommendations from various National and international elections observer’s reports were keenly studied as well as the recommendations from the supreme court. All these were done to improve our election management”, Byabakama observed.
He also added that, the commission is set to exercise a fair and transparent election if at all other stakeholders complete their roles.
“To achieve the above, the commission appeals to the government, particularly Cabinet and the Legislature, to ensure timely amendment and or enactment of the relevant electoral laws, including considerations of recommendations by the Supreme Court”, he stated.
The commission states that, the increased costs are due to the newly formed Districts, constituencies and villages which expanded their budget.
Electoral Commission overall programmes
However, EC stated that, on April 17. 2019 – May 7 they will begin dividing the new constituencies and reorganising polling stations.
May 12. 2019- June 21, capturing demarcations and reorganising returns while June 26. 2019, publication of the constituencies, electoral areas and their polling stations.
July 1-30. 2019, handling of complaints arising from demarcation and August 14. 2019- Oct 2, final publication of the reorganised polling stations.
Nov 21. 2019, update of voter’s register and Jan 5, gazette and publish polling stations.
Jan 20. 2020, cut-off of updates of National voter’s register and compilation of youth, persons with disabilities, older persons and workers registers in accordance with ECA sec. 19(7) and 19(8)(a).
Jan21. 2020- Jan25, retrieval of updates returns from parish to EC headquarters and Jan 29. 2020– March 8 capture of update returns and compilation of display register.
March 19. 2020- April 8, display of the National Voters Register at each polling station and April. 10. 2020- April 20, display of tribunal recommendations at each parish.
May 2. 2020- May 31, cleaning and processing the National Voter’s Register for nominations while onMarch 30. 2020- April 3, gazette and publish candidate’s nomination dates and venues.
July 20. 2020- July 24, nomination of candidates for example; local government and SIGs and July 29. 2020- October 27, production, printing and delivery of ballot papers.
July 30. 2020- Jan. 9. 2021, local government and SIGs campaigns and on August 12. 2020, nomination of parliamentary candidates and on August 20, choosing of presidential contenders.
August 16. 2020- Jan 9 2021, parliamentary campaigns.
Oct 7. 2020- Jan 5 2021, packing of polling kits and Jan 11.2021- Jan- Feb 9, presidential and parliamentary polling date including local government and SIGs.
However, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda Prime Minister of Uganda treasured the new election road map noting that the government is dedicated to hold free and fair elections in 2021 general elections.
Rugunda says that the Electoral Commission has given its election plan early to enable them sensitise and mobilise the public and those who intend to offer themselves as candidates have enough time to prepare, to mobilise and to plan.
“This is an important prerequisite for having the free, fair and transparent elections. Putting things in the open and in time”, Rugunda stated.
We shall keep you posted here at Flash Uganda media
