EC: Elections To Go Ahead, No Mass Rallies

The Chairman of the Uganda Electoral Commission (EC) Justice Simon Byabakama has said the issue of postponing the 2021 elections has not occurred to them, because the constitution commands them to hold elections within a specific time-frame.

“Article 61, Clause 2 of the Constitution commands us to have elections, to uphold the sanctity of the article. It asks us to hold elections in the first 30 days, of the last 122 days of the last term of the government, COVID-19 or not, ” Justice Byabakama said, adding that “in those circumstances we must devise means amid challenges at hand to comply with constitutional requirements.”

He said as a result of COVID-19 therefore, no mass rallies will be allowed before the elections, and aspiring candidates will campaign using different media platforms only. “My appeal goes to media owners to avail opportunities to all the candidates for fair coverage,” he said at a press briefing on Tuesday..

Campaigns on radio and TV

Byabakama said the EC has been consulting with the Ministry of Health on measures required for an election to take place.

“After consultation with Ministry of Health, we have agreed on SOPS, and left out usual activities like mass campaigns that can be a danger. For voting, a voter must physically appear to vote, so we will also consider SOPS to enable this,” Justice Byabakama said.

NEW ROAD MAP

No	Activity	Period
1.	Political Party and Organisations to identify flag bearers	22^nd June – 21^st July 2020
2.	Deadline for resignation by public servants wishing to participate in Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Committees Elections	29^th June 2020
3.	Nomination of Village SIGs (Older Persons, Persons with Disability and Youth) Committees Candidates (see attacheddetailed for progressive levels up to National)	5^th August 2020
4.	Deadline for establishment of academic papers with Electoral Commission by aspiring candidates for Local Government	7^th July 2020
5.	Deadline for establishment of academic papers with ElectoralCommission by aspiring candidates for Parliamentary Elections	11^th August 2020
6.	Deadline for establishment of academic papers with ElectoralCommission by aspiring candidates for Presidential Elections	1^st September 2020
7.	Deadline for resignation by public servants aspiring to contest forParliamentary Elections	12^th July 2020
8.	Deadline for resignation by public servants aspiring to contest forLocal Government Councils Elections	6^th August 2020
9.	Deadline for resignation by public servants aspiring to contest forSIG Representative to Parliament	7^th August 2020
10.	Deadline for resignation by public servants aspiring to contest forPresidential Elections	31^st October 2020
11.	Period for nomination of candidates for Local Governments, including SIGs	7^th– 17^th September 2020
12.	Nomination of Candidates for Parliamentary Elections	12^th– 13^th October 2020
13.	Nomination of Candidates for Presidential Elections	2^nd– 3^rd November 2020
14.	Harmonisdation of Campaign Programme and Signing ofMemorandum	4^th– 9^th November 2020
15.	Conduct of candidates’ campaigns digitally for Local Government	28^th September 2020 – 8^th January 2021
16.	Conduct of candidates’ campaigns digitally for ParliamentaryElections	20^th October 2020 – 8^th January 2021
17.	Conduct of candidates’ campaigns digitally for PresidentialElections	10^th November 2020 – 8^th January 2021
18.	Polling period for General Elections (exact polling dates to be appointed in due course)	10^th January – 8^th February 2021