UGVotes2021: The Electoral Commission issues press statement on progress of the 2021 General Elections Roadmap

The Electoral Commission today released a press statement which entailed campaign procedures and guidelines as well as polling dates for the 2021 Parliamentary and Local Government elections.

The statement indicates that the elections of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Committees from the village to district level have been concluded successfully.

Further, the Commission reports that a high number of aspirants – party sponsored and independent candidates – turned up for the nomination exercise. Publication of the results for the nomination shall be done upon concluding the ongoing compilation of details for all the nominated candidates.

Subsequently, the Commission set campaign periods for the Parliamentary and Local Government Councils. The campaign period is to run from the 9^thof November for all categories to varying dates next year.

The Parliamentary elections (directly-elected MPs and District Woman Representative to Parliament) will end on the 12^thof January next year. The City/District Local Government Councils (Lord Mayor/Mayors/Chairpersons and Councilors) will end on the 18^thof January next year. The Municipality/City Division Chairpersons and Councilors campaign period will run till the 23^rdof January, 2021 and; the Sub County/Town/Municipal Division Chairpersons and Councilors will run until the 1^STof February next year.

The Commission has set general guidelines for campaigners wherein campaigns shall be conducted between 7:00am and 6:00pm. Language restrictions have been imposed where defamatory words which incite public disorder, hatred, violence or threaten war have been banned. Due to the Covid19 guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health, processions and mass gatherings/rallies remained prohibited.

However, campaign meetings hosting a maximum of 70 participants with strict observance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are accepted. Candidates conducting these meetings, as well as the venue owners, must ensure availability of hand washing facilities and sanitizers to meeting attendees. Returning Officers are to be informed of the venues chosen by the candidates in their respective constituencies. The ROs, with the support of the police, shall then carry out an inspection of the venues.

The Commission has warned against placing posters on road sign-posts and banners shall not be hanged on electric lines or in any other manner that hinders or endangers traffic flow and pedestrian movement. Posters and banners hung in such a manner shall be removed by police and relevant Council authorities.

Candidates have been permitted usage of Public Address Systems (kazindaalo) between the hours of 7:00am and 9:00am as well as 4:00pm and 6:00pm as per the campaign programme harmonized with the ROs.

In line with s18(1)(a) of the Parliamentary Elections Act and s107 of the Local Government Act, the Commission has set the polling dates for the various positions as follows:

Further, the Commission has appointed the 2^ndand 3^rdof November as the dates for nominating candidates for the 2021 Presidential elections. On each of the appointed dates, the nominations will be conducted between 9:00am and 5:00pm at Kyambogo University Sports Grounds. Access to the venue will be limited in accordance with Covid19 guidelines.

The aspirant will be allowed to access the venue with no more than nine (9) accompanying persons whose particulars shall have been submitted to the Commission in advance.

The aspirants are allowed a maximum of 3 vehicles with each carrying a maximum of four people, inclusive of the driver.

In accordance with s27(2) of the Presidential Elections Act, the incumbent President, who is also a candidate, will be allowed such facilities as are ordinarily attached to his office.

Nomination and supporter forms were already availed to the aspirants by the Commission two months ago. The Presidential Elections Act under s10(b) requires that a candidate is supported by not less than 100 registered voters from not less than 98 districts. The Commission set up a team to handle the verification of supporters for the nomination of candidates.

As at 22^ndOctober, 19 candidates have submitted their supporter forms for verications as follows:

Aspirants whose supporters from the 98 districts have been verified are issued a Certificate of Compliance which is presented to the Returning Officer on the day of nomination. The Commission has urged aspirants to book time on the gazetted nomination dates in advance for purposes of easing the exercise.

The Commission will appoint a campaign period and polling dates for the Presidential elections upon completion of the nomination exercise as is required by s21(1) of the Presidential Elections Act.

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