Uganda’s Electoral Commission (EC) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) have organized a Symposium themed ‘Strengthening the Electoral Process in Uganda: Sharing Regional Electoral Experiences and Good Practices’ with the aim of picking lessons from Electoral bodies from other African countries on how to prepare and organize credible elections.
The Symposium is taking place at Speke Resort, Munyonyo, Kampala from 4th – 5th December 2019.
Speaking to the press, EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi said the EC is engaging all stakeholders to ensure 2020/2021 general elections are properly organized.
“We have guests from other electoral bodies from Africa in particular. They are here to share their experiences in their own countries so that we see as a country/Electoral Commission who are preparing for general ections what lessons can we pick from them. What is useful that can be picked from them to enhance voter confidence, to enhance transparency, to enhance acceptability of the whole exercise? That’s why we are here,” Byabakama said.
He thanked UNDP for funding the Symposium.
In his opening remarks, Sam A. Rwakoojo, the Secretary/ Secretary/Electoral Commission said the Symposium is organised as a follow-up event in commemoration of the International Day of Democracy (IDD), which was marked on 15th September 2019.
“I wish to extend our gratitude to UNDP for the support in organizing this Symposium, which has brought together various stakeholders in the democracy and governance sector. We are here to reflect on strengthening electoral democracy in Uganda, to which we attach great important, given the central role of democratic elections in the governance of nations,” Rwakoojo said.
He added that the Symposium has been designed to provide a highly interactive and cordial learning environment, and features a lineup of more than a dozen experts in the field of elections, governance, security, media, planning and research.
“The solution-oriented presentations, discussions questions and case studies are designed to achieve a key learning objective, that is, to draw lessons from other countries on various aspects including challenges and opportunities aimed at achieving peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process,” he said.
He added: “As you are aware, the cornerstone to any democratic system is the conduct of regular free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections at all levels of governance. Accordingly, the Electoral Commission (EC) was established under Article 60 (Constitution, 1995) and mandated (Article 61) to organize, conduct and supervise regular free and fair elections and referenda in Uganda. Since its establishment by the Constitution, the Commission has successfully organized and conducted five general elections (1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016) as well as two referenda on political systems (2000 and 2005), and several Parliamentary and Local Government Councils elections and by-elections. The Electoral Commission has already commenced on preparations for the 2020/2021 General Elections.”
He explained that the Commission has been able to organize and conduct all the above electoral exercises and the ongoing Roadmap for 2020/2021, with the support and participation of various stakeholders.
