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^th of 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^th of January next year. The City/District Local Government Councils (Lord Mayor/Mayors/Chairpersons and Councilors) will end on the 18^th of January next year. The Municipality/City Division Chairpersons and Councilors campaign period will run till the 23^rd of January, 2021 and; the Sub County/Town/Municipal Division Chairpersons and Councilors will run until the 1^ST of 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:

No.	Elective Position	Polling Date
1.	Election of Councillors for Older Persons to the Sub County/Town/Municipal Division	11^th January 2021
2.	Elections of Councillors for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to the Sub County/Town/Municipal Division	11^th January 2021
3.	Elections of Youth Representatives to the Sub County/Town/Municipal Division	11^th January 2021
4.	Election of Councillors for Older Persons to the Municipality/City Division	12^th January 2021
5.	Elections of Councillors for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to the Municipality/City Division	12^th January 2021
6.	Elections of Councillors for Youth to the Municipality/City Division	12^th January 2021
7.	Elections of Member of Parliament (Directly-elected MP and District Woman Representative to Parliament)	14^th January 2021
8.	National Conference for Election of Older Persons Representatives to Parliament	17^th –18^th January 2021
9.	National Conference for Election of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) Representatives to Parliament	17^th –18^th January 2021
10.	National Conference for Election of Workers Representatives to Parliament	17^th –18^th January 2021
11.	Elections of District Local Government Councils: (District/City Chairpersons, Lord Mayor, Mayors, and Councillors)	20^th January 2021
12.	National Conference for Election of National Female Youths Representative to Parliament	21^st –22^nd January 2021
13.	Elections of Municipality/City Division Chairpersons and Councillors	25^th January 2021
14.	Elections of Councillors for Older Persons to the District Local Government Councils	27^th January 2021
15.	Elections of Councillors for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) to the District Local Government Councils	27^th January 2021
16.	Elections of Councillors for Youths to the District Local Government Councils	27^th January 2021
17.	Elections of Workers Representatives to District Local Government Councils	27^th January 2021
18.	Elections of UPDF Representatives to Parliament	29^th January 2021
19.	Regional Conferences for Election of Regional Youths Representatives to Parliament	31^st January– 1^st February 2021
20.	Elections of Sub County/Town/Municipal Division Chairpersons and Councillors	February 3^rd 2021

Further, the Commission has appointed the 2^nd and 3^rd of 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^nd October, 19 candidates have submitted their supporter forms for verications as follows:

No	Name	Party/Independent	Status
1	Yoweri Kaguta Museveni	National Resistance Movement (NRM)	Verified &cleared
2	Bbaale Charles	Ecological Party of Uganda (EPU)	Under verification
3	Tumukunde Henry Kakurugu	Independent	Under verification
4	Mwesigye Fred	Independent	Under verification
5	Mayambala Willy	Independent	Under verification
6	Lugudde-Katwe Elizabeth	Independent	Under verification
7	Mutono Mbulambago Robert	Independent	Under verification
8	Ebetu Simon	Independent	Under verification
9	Mabirizi Joseph	Independent	Under verification
10	Kabuleta Kiiza Joseph	Independent	Under verification
11	Yamureebire Jotham	Independent	Under verification
12	Makmot Moses	Independent	Under verification
13	Okoth Geoffrey	Independent	Under verification
14	Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert	National Unity Platform (NUP)	Under verification
15	Katumba John	Independent	Under verification
16	Kalembe Nancy Linda	Independent	Under verification
17	Katushemererwe Brenda	Independent	Under verification
18	Amuriat Oboi Patrick	Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)	Under verification
19	Mugisha Muntu Gregg	Alliance for National Transformation (ANT)	Under verification

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.