Uganda EC declines to re-open voter registration

Uganda Electoral Commission (EC) declines to re-open voter registration exercise

EC not to reopen voter registration – Uganda Electoral Commission (EC) has revised the Presidential and Parliamentary nominations dates from August 20th to the beginning of October.

The adjustments in the electoral roadmap concerning the presidential and parliamentary nominations were revealed by the EC chairperson, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama in a meeting with the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.

“The Commission has resolved to adjust the period for nominations for presidential and parliamentary elections from august 12th and 20th respectively to the beginning of October this year,” Byabakama revealed.

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However, some legislators sitting on the Committee opposed the move saying the time is too short and some presidential candidates won’t have enough time for campaigns.

Legislators say many districts and presidential aspirants need a lot of times to traverse the entire country, and sometimes they may encounter difficulties and fail to campaign on certain dates.

Responding to legislators concerns, Byabakama informed the committee that the EC has limited input on the matter.

“So, on the issue of consultations, the law does not confirm us of any responsibility by way of regulating, by way of managing or supervising the aspirants, it does not do that,” Byabakama said.

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In the same regard, Byabakama informed the committee that there will be no reopening of voter registration because they have to organize the registers in preparation for the 2021 general elections.

“The state must take all the necessary steps that all those citizens qualified to vote, register and vote. The age is applicable at the time you seek to get enrolled or access the National Voters Register, the law does not provide for a scenario where those voters who will turn 1

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Former Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) Coordinator, Crispin Kaheru supported EC’s agenda, saying that keeping the campaigning period short will save elections administration costs.

“Well, I think first and foremost it’s a welcome decision to see that the EC is trying to keep the campaigning period barest minimum. And this is not only in Uganda; many of the countries across the world are trying to keep the campaigning period or election period to the barest

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“For instance; Kenya has 259 districts and they have curbed their campaigning days to 70 days. On the other hand, Tanzania has about 169 districts and they have curbed the campaigning period to 60 days. So, Uganda which is now proposing a 90 day period that’s not an exception, th

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Kaheru, however, urged candidates to launch in creative ways of campaigning using radios, mass media, the internet and all these other platforms that are available to the people.

He adds that campaigning in a particular district does not mean that one has to physically be present.

“I wouldn’t speak that it’s advantaging one section against the other simply because they all have equal days to campaign to move around. I mean yes I hear those that might say that based on the fact the incumbent presidential candidate might have the advantages of flying in a ch

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Relatedly, Kaheru asked police to allow opposition politicians particularly Bobi Wine and others to freely move around the country sharing their aspirations with their potential voters since Uganda is a multiparty dispensation

“But presidential aspirants Hon Robert Kyagulanyi and the others that want to make their voices heard have not violated any law, I think they should be given their freedom to move around the country, to share their aspirations with the potential supporters and voters and be given

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“I think what police is doing right now is just inflaming a situation that would ideally be passed quietly and normally,” he added.

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