ROAD TO 2021: Presidential candidates to cover 110 districts as EC sets Local Gov’t Council polls Nomination dates

By Francis Otucu

Aspirants seeking to become President of Uganda must each get at least 11000 registered voters from at least 110 districts across Uganda to second them for nomination as presidential candidates.

This is according to guidelines issued Thursday by Independent Electoral Commission Chairman Justice Simon Mugeni Byabakama at the EC offices in Kampala. While briefing journalists on the progress of the implementation of the 2021 election roadmap, Byabakama noted that the condition is in line with the legal provision that requires such candidates to get signatures of 100 registered voters from at least two-thirds of the total districts in Uganda. He explained that given that Uganda has 146 districts, the two-thirds requirement translates into 110 districts.

Byabakama added that after getting these voters, aspirants are supposed to return these signatures within at least two weeks before nomination dates.

The EC chairman revealed that November 2 and 3^rd has been set as nomination dates for presidential candidates. “That means that lists of these supporters should be submitted to the Electoral Commission for verification by at least October 16, 2020,” Byabakama said.

Meanwhile, the EC at the same briefing set September 21, 2020 to October 1, 2020 as dates for nomination of candidates for Local Government Councils elections. The EC said that nomination for District/City Chairperson and District/City councilor shall take place at the district headquarters. The same venue applies to Municipality/City division Chairperson as well as Municipality and Division councilors. For sub county/town/municipality Chairperson and sub county/town/municipality councilor, they shall be nominated at the county headquarters.

The nomination will be followed by a campaign period leading to polling day expected between January 10, 2020 and February 8, 2020.

Nomination for presidential candidates is scheduled for November 2, 2020 and November 3, 2020, at the Kololo Independence Grounds starting 10am and ending 4pm. To this, the commission advised aspiring candidates to book in advance on any of the gazette dates so as to ensure smooth nomination exercise.

VOTERS

The Electoral Commission of Uganda has revealed actual number of registered voters in Uganda. According to EC Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, Uganda has 17, 658, 527 registered voters. Of these, 8, 439, 564 (47.79%) are male and 9, 218, 963 (52.221%) female. The voters, according to the commission, are in the 146 districts, 312 counties, 353 constituencies, 2, 185 sub-counties, 10, 595 parishes, 70, 626 villages with 34, 344 polling stations.

Covid-19 guidelines key

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission has urged all candidates seeking political office in the forthcoming 2021 elections to put people’s health first in their bid to gain power.

“Candidates, their agents and supporters are urged to strictly follow the guidelines on public meetings as issued by the ministry of health and the commission. We call upon all Ugandans to work together to ensure safe participation in the elections,” Byabakama said.