ROAD MAP: EC Finalizes Verification of Villages and Parishes Ahead of Women Councils and Committees` Elections

The electoral commission is moving with speed and purpose towards the upcoming women councils and committees elections. The polls umpire has so far completed the verification exercise in respect of villages and parishes where the elections are slated to be held.

The Electoral commission’s chief, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi today announced the completion of the verification exercise and issued the road map for the women’s elections and those pending. Below, is the public statement which Justice Byabakama issued for the attention and information of the country and especially those wishing to stand and their political parties.

Press Statement on the Update for Conduct of Women Councils and Committees Elections and Other Electoral-related Activities

1.0 Introduction

Our esteemed partners, members of the press, it is my privilege and pleasure to welcome you to our press briefing.

Today, the Commission would like to update you and the general public concerning the programme for Women Councils and Committees Elections and other electoral-related activities, as follows:

2.0 Finalization of the Countrywide Verification of Administrative Units (Villages and Parishes)

In preparation for the conduct of Women Councils and Committees Elections 2022 and Administrative Units (LC 1 & LC 2) Elections 2023, the Electoral Commission conducted a countrywide exercise to compare, verify, harmonise and confirm all administrative units (villages/cells, parishes/wards and sub-counties).

The exercise was conducted from 16th March to 27th March 2022, and the Electoral Commission, in conjunction with the Ministry of Local Government, have finalized the processing of the returns.

The purpose of the exercise was to update the list of Villages, Parishes and Sub-counties in the country upon which the Women Councils and Committees Elections of 2022 and the Administrative Units (LC 1 & LC 2) Elections of 2023, will be based, in accordance with Section 7 of the Local Government Act, Cap 243.

Accordingly, the number of Administrative Units in Uganda for purposes of conducting the Women Councils and Committees Elections, 2022 will be as follows:

No. Level Statistics

1. Districts/Cities 146

2. Sub Counties/Town Councils/Municipal Divisions 2,191

3. Parishes/Wards 10,692

4. Village/cells 71,255

The Commission will issue the list to political parties and organizations to enable them prepare for presenting of candidates during the conduct of Women Councils and Committees Elections to be held this year (2022) and Administrative Units (LC1 & LC2) Elections which will be held in 2023.

The Commission will also publish the harmonized and updated list of Administrative Units onto the website for public access.

3.0 Programme for the Conduct of Women Councils and Committees Elections

The current Women Councils and Committees were elected during the period June – August 2018, and the Executive Committee of the National Women’s Council was constituted on 23rd – 24 August 2018.

According to the National Women’s Council Act, the terms of office of the said Councils and Committees is four (4) years, implying their term will elapse in August 2022.

Accordingly, the Electoral Commission did earlier issue the programme for the elections of Women Councils and Committees Elections from the Village to the National level as follows:

No Activity Period

Village/Cell Level

1. Compilation of Village Women’s Register 10th – 13th June 2022

2. Display of the Women’s Register at the Village level 23rd – 24th June 2022

3. Nomination of candidates at the Sub County Headquarters 27th June-1st July 2022

4. Candidates’ Campaigns for election of the Village Women Committee 4th – 6th July 2022

5. Polling Day for election of five (5) members of Village Women Committee (lining, counting, filling forms and declaration) 7th July 2022

Parish/Ward Level

1. Compilation of the Parish/Ward Women Council Registers 8th – 9th July 2022

2. Display of Parish/Ward Women Council Registers 11th – 12th July 2022

3. Nomination of Candidates for Parish/Ward Women Committees 13th – 14th July 2022

4. Candidates’ Campaigns for Parish/Ward Women Committees 18th – 20th July 2022

5. Polling Day for election of Parish/Ward Women Committees 22nd July 2022

City Division/Sub-County/Town Council/Municipal Division Level

1. Compilation of City/Sub-County/Town/Municipal Div. Women’s Registers 23rd July 2022

2. Display of City Div./Sub County/Town/Municipal Div. Women’s Registers 25th – 26th July 2022

3. Nomination of candidates (City Division/Sub-County/Town /Municipal Div. Committee) 27th – 28th July 2022

4. Candidates’ campaigns (City Division/Sub-County/Town /Municipal Div. Committee) 29th July-1st Aug 2022

5. Polling Day: election of City Div./Sub-County/Town/Municipal Div. Women Committee 2nd August 2022

District/City Level

1. Compilation of District/City Women Registers 3rd August 2022

2. Display of District/City Women Registers 4th-5th August 2022

3. Nomination of Candidates for District/City Women Committees 5th August 2022

4. Candidates’ Campaigns for District/City Women Committees 8th-11th August 2022

5. Polling Day for Election of District/City Women Committees 12th August 2022

National Conference for Election of the National Women Committee

1. National Conference for National Women Committee Elections (Display of register, nomination of candidates, campaigns, voting, counting & declaration of results) 22nd-23rd August 2022

The Commission wishes to highlight the following key activities that will be undertaken at the village level, which forms the basis for the conduct of the elections in a progressive manner up to the national level.

4.0 Compilation of Register for Election of Village Women Executive Committees 10th – 13th June 2022

In preparation for the Women Councils and Committees Elections, the Electoral Commission will compile a register of willing female residents in each village throughout Uganda from Friday 10th June to Monday 13th June 2022.

The purpose of this registration exercise is to enable all willing female residents aged 18 years and above, to register in order to participate in the above elections within their respective villages.

The registration will be conducted from 7:00am until 6:00pm on each of the appointed dates, including weekends.

All stakeholders are urged to note the following:

a) Eligible and willing female residents aged 18 years and above shall turn up in person at the registration centre within the village of residence to register;

b) The registration exercise shall be for the sole purpose of electing the Village Women’s Executive Committee;

c) The village women residents shall be registered in a customized Register Book provided by the Electoral Commission;

d) For one to register in the Village Women Residents Register, she must fulfill the following requirements;

i. Must be a citizen of Uganda, who is ordinarily resident in the Village of registration;

ii. Must be eighteen (18) years of age and above at the time of registration;

iii. Must be willing to be a member of the Village Council;

e) A person appearing for registration shall be required to provide the following particulars to the Village Election Official:

i. Names;

ii. National Identity Number or Application ID Number,

iii. Age,

iv. Gender, and,

v. Village of Residence.

e) The registration exercise shall be free of charge.

The Commission has further appointed Monday 13th June 2022, as the cut-off date for registration of female village residents. Hence, the registration of female residents in each village throughout Uganda will not be conducted after this date.

5.0 Display of the Village Female Residents Register, 23rd – 24th June 2022

The display of the Register will be from 23rd – 24th June 2022 in all the villages across the country.

The display of the above Registers shall begin at 8:00am and end at 6:00pm at the designated public/open place in the respective village.

During the display, the voters are urged to turn up in large numbers and check for the correctness of their particulars, such as names, National ID Number or Application ID Number, age, gender and village of residence.

Residents are further urged to report to the Village Election Official the following categories of persons for removal from the Registers:

a) The under-aged, and,

b) Those who do not reside in the village.

6.0 Composition of the Village Women’s Committee

The Village Women’s Committee shall consist of the following five (5) positions:

a) Chairperson;

b) Vice Chairperson;

c) Secretary;

d) Publicity Secretary; and

e) Secretary for Finance.

7.0 Nomination of Candidates for the Women Councils Elections at the Village Level, 27th June to 1st July 2022

The nomination of candidates for Village Women Executive Committees will be conducted from 27th June to 1st July 2022 at the respective Sub County/City Division Headquarters’.

a) An aspiring candidate for any office on the Women’s Committee shall be a female ordinarily resident in the village, aged eighteen (18) years of age or above and a citizen of Uganda.

b) An aspiring candidate shall be registered on the Village Women’s Council Register.

c) No academic qualifications shall be required. Furthermore, no nomination fee shall be required.

d) Nomination of candidates may be made by a political party/organization sponsoring a candidate or by a candidate standing for elections as an independent candidate without being sponsored by a political party or political organization.

e) The conduct of Women Councils/Committees Elections are progressive in nature starting at Village and ending at National Level.

f) This means that for one to be elected at National Level, she should have been successfully elected right from Village level.

Please note that no one can join the subsequent electoral processes if she did not participate at the Village Level.

8.0 Resignation by Public Servants

Section 7A of the National Women’s Act [Cap 318] provides that; “Under the multiparty political system, nomination of candidates may be made by a [political organisation or a political party sponsoring a candidate…”

However, the Political Parties and Organisation Act [18 of 2005] prohibits public officers among others from being members of a Political Party or standing for elections under sponsorship of a political party or organisation.

Section 4(4) of the Parliamentary Elections Act [Cap 17 of 2005] and Section 116(5) of the Local Governments Act, Cap 243 also prohibit public servants among others from seeking elective offices. For those who wish to, they shall have to resign.

So all public Officers who wish to participate in Women Councils and Committees Elections shall be expected to resign before seeking for nomination as candidates.

9.0 Conduct of Campaigns and Polling

The candidates’ campaigns for election of the Village Women Committee will be conducted from 4th to 6th July 2022.

The Commission has appointed Thursday 7th July 2022 as polling day for election of the five (5) members of Village Women Committee;

The election of members of the Village Women Committee shall be by the electorate lining up behind the nominated candidates, their representatives, portraits or symbols.

Voting shall take place in a public/open place within the village, starting at 9:00am.

10.0 Observance of Standard Operating Procedures

All persons participating in the elections shall be required to comply with guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission in accordance with the Government of Uganda and Ministry of Health measures against the spread of COVID-19.

This includes observing social distancing, hand washing, and wearing of masks.

11.2 Conclusion

The Commission urges all eligible women to turn up in high numbers and exercise their right to elect leaders of their choice at the above elective levels.

On behalf of the Commission, I take this opportunity to congratulate the people of Uganda and all believers in God on the auspicious occasion of Martyrs Day, on 3rd June 2022, when we remember and celebrate the resolute faith of our Martyrs.

May their faithful witness continue to inspire us in our faith and service to God and to our country.

For God and My Country,

Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon

Chairperson, Electoral Commission

Author Profile

Daniels N Tatya: Mr. Daniels N. Tatya is an affluent Sports Writer, Commentator and Editor. His over 15 years of covering almost major sporting events makes him a revered and an authority on investigative Sports journalism in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected] +256(0)758268315