The Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja (Right) and Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao (Left) witnessed the launch of EC’s Strategic Plan 2022/2023-2026/2027 and the Roadmap for the 2025/2026 General Elections. The were joined by Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi (Centre), Chairperson, Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission has launched its Strategic Plan 2022/2023-2026/2027 and the Roadmap for the 2025/2026 General Elections, with a call for adequate funding.
The call was made by Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, Chairperson, Electoral Commission at the Launch of the Electoral Commission Strategic Plan 2022/2023-2026/2027 and Roadmap for the 2025/2026 General Elections, held at Hotel Africana, Kampala on Wednesday 2nd August 2023.
The event was presided over by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja as the Guest of Honour and Norbert Mao, the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
“My appeal is that Government continues to provide adequate funding in a timely manner to enable the Commission to undertake its constitutional obligations. I reiterate our desire for Parliament to enact laws or amendments to electoral laws in time so as not to destabilize the Roadmap,” Byabakama said.
He thanked the people of Uganda for supporting the Commission to deliver the 2020/2021 General Elections, which were organized under extraordinary circumstances owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said these elections were unique because the risks associated with the pandemic required the EC to conduct electoral activities under reduced and limited timeframes and modified guidelines. Furthermore, he said, there was an increase in cost to provide for COVID-19 safety measures at all electoral activity areas, public mobilization, sensitization, and enforcement, as well as safety materials at all electoral centres.
He thanked Government for providing the funding that enabled the EC to deliver the elections within the Constitutional timelines.
The Electoral Commission is established under Article 60 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. Under Article 61 of the same Constitution the Commission is mandated to, among others, ensure that regular, free, and fair elections and referenda are held.
In so doing, the Commission is required to conduct the various activities within specified timelines as stipulated in the Constitution and other Electoral Laws.
For instance, under Article 61 (2), the Commission must conduct general elections for Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government Council elections within the first thirty (30) days of the last one hundred and twenty-two (122) days before the expiration of the term of the President, Parliament or Local Government Councils as the case may be.
The Commission must, therefore, set particular timelines for purposes of proper planning, management, and organization of elections.
“It is in this spirit that the Commission is launching the Strategic Plan and Roadmap we are here to witness,” Byabakama said,
Since its establishment by the Constitution, the Commission has organized and conducted six (6) general elections (1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021) as well as two referenda on political systems (2000 and 2005), and several Parliamentary and Local Government Councils elections and by-elections.
The EC boss said the Strategic Plan is a result of extensive research and stakeholder consultation.
“Following the conclusion of the 2020/2021 General Elections, the Commission conducted Post-Election Evaluation workshops across the Country with various key stakeholders in the electoral process. The stakeholders gave us their own honest assessments on how the electoral process and the conduct of the 2020/2021 General Elections were done,” he said.
He added: “The Commission further conducted its own self-assessment by engaging our own staff to give their opinions on the conduct of the last General Elections and subsequent by-elections. The recommendations from various election observer reports were keenly studied, as well as the recommendations from Court decisions. All this was done to improve our election management.”
Some of the strengths identified during these evaluations include: government commitment to fund the electoral process; An enabling legal framework; An experienced and knowledgeable workforce; Good working relationship between the members of the Commission and Staff; Forward planning through project approach and roadmap for electoral activities; and, Availability and use of technology.
The Commission also identified the following challenges: a. Delayed enactment/amendment of electoral laws; Continuous creation of administrative units which brings about an increase in costs; Inadequate training of temporary election officials as a result of limited funds; and Inadequate voter education because of insufficient funds.
“These evaluations and self-assessments were in line with the practice of the Commission, and it is from this background that the Commission has been able to introduce new innovations and improvements in election management. To us, every election provides lessons for the next one,” he said.
He added that the objective of this Strategic Plan and Roadmap is to provide clear communication of priority areas in the Election Cycle with the aim of improving operational efficiency and stakeholder awareness and participation, by seeking to build on the positive reforms and innovations introduced in the last general elections.
The Plan and Roadmap also aim at enhancing organizational and staff capacity planning.
Organizing and conducting Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government Councils Elections is a huge and expensive exercise, particularly when it is funded in one year, he said.
“The Strategic Plan is, therefore, designed to enable phased funding of key election activities, which will reduce funding pressure on the Government and facilitate the Commission to conduct the elections in a smooth manner,” he said.
He added that the Roadmap is clearly a reminder to all stakeholders in the electoral process to start planning to ensure a smooth democratic process.
To achieve the above, the Commission appealed to the Government, particularly Cabinet and the Legislature, to ensure timely amendment and/or enactment of the relevant electoral laws.
“This is critical because any amendment in electoral laws will have to take into consideration, the electoral roadmap, the procurement timeframes in accordance with PPDA requirements, and the impact on the overall elections planning and budget,” Byabakama said.
Similarly, he added, the Commission appealed to the Government to consider and approve the creation of new administrative units in a timely manner, so that the electoral program and budget are not destabilized.
“When this is not done, the impact on our preparations, particularly on the demarcation of electoral areas, re-organization of polling stations, and voter education is enormous,” he said.
The EC boss also noted that there are key pending national-level electoral activities, namely, Administrative Units (LC 1 and LC 2) and Women Councils and Committees Elections.
“The Commission urges Government to provide the required funds so that the above elections are held before key General Elections activities start, to avoid stampeding the Roadmap,” Byabakama said.
The Commission also cautioned political parties and organizations, that the release of this Strategic Plan and Roadmap is not meant to thrust the Country into a frenzy of campaign-related activities for aspiring individuals, Political parties, and organizations.
“While Consultations are provided for in the law, campaigns must follow a program approved and regulated by the Commission,” Byabakama said, adding: “I, therefore, urge Political Parties and Organisations to use the Plan and Roadmap to make adequate preparations for successful participation in the elections. I further urge the political parties to pursue peaceful co-existence before, during, and after the electoral process.”
He urged Ugandans to work with the Electoral Commission and ensure a smooth implementation of the Roadmap, and the preservation of the peace and stability we are currently enjoying.
“I want to thank the Government of Uganda which has always provided funding to enable the Electoral Commission fulfil its Constitutional mandate. I also wish, in the same spirit, to thank those Development Partners who have been able to partner with the Government by extending electoral support to the Commission,” he said.
Gov’t Pledges Support
The Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja said that the Office of the Prime Minister will make sure that the required funds are released to the Commission to smoothly execute the activities as outlined in the Roadmap for the next general election.
“The Office of the Prime Minister will make sure that the enactment of relevant laws for the 2025/2026 General Elections is done before the end of 2023/2024 financial year,” Nabbanja said.
She called upon all political players to organize themselves in accordance with this roadmap so that they effectively participate in this process.
“I implore all stakeholders to carefully examine all the timelines as outlined in the Roadmap, and work with the Electoral Commission to smoothly implement the electoral roadmap for 2025/2026 general elections,” she said.
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, said the EC has been lamenting about civic education, noting that focus should now be on civic education.
“The citizens are the nursery beds for leaders because leaders are picked from citizens. We need to make sure our citizens have civic education,” Mao said, adding: “The issues raised such as the need to enact laws to enable the elections are very vital. These are issues that keep Ugandans waiting.”
