Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the Chairperson, Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission has released the electoral programme for Kawempe North Constituency by-election, noting that the polling day is scheduled for Thursday 13th March 2025.
Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the Chairperson, Electoral Commission, made the revelation at the stakeholders’ consultative meeting on Monday 27th January 2025 for Parliamentary and Local Government councils by-elections in Kawempe Division North Constituency, Kampala capital city.
The meeting centered on matters concerning the electoral processes for the by-elections of the Directly-elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North Constituency and the Directly-elected Councillor for Kazo-Angola Ward, Kawempe Division.
The Kawempe North Parliamentary seat became vacant following the death of the former representative (MP), Ssegirinya Muhammad on 9th January 2025.
As required by the Constitution, the timeframe for conducting this by-election is sixty days (60) after the Clerk to Parliament has notified the Commission about the vacancy. In this case, the said period will lapse on 15th March 2025.
Accordingly, the Electoral Commission has approved the electoral programme for this by-election.
“The purpose of this meeting is to present to you the programme and to discuss strategies to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and participatory electoral process in Kawempe Division North and also address any other issues to ensure a peaceful by-election,” Byabakama said, adding that during this by-election programme, the Commission will also fill the vacancy for the Directly-elected Councillor for Kazo-Angola Ward, Kawempe Division.
The Electoral Commission has already commenced with various activities to conduct the by-elections.
“Publicity and voter education have already commenced and will be enhanced by local announcements and updates done by the Electoral Commission through the Returning Officer. These will be assisted by the Sub County and Parish Supervisors,” Byabakama said.
He added that the Commission believes that the successful filling of the vacancies will depend, among other things, on stakeholders’ partnership, positive/unbiased mobilization, and sensitization of the electorate to observe law and order and to actively but peacefully participate in the entire electoral process as follows:
a) Participation in the Update of the National Voters’ Register exercise in Kawempe North, which will specifically commence today, Monday 27th January, and end on Friday 31st January 2025.
Please note that this by-election is being conducted at a time when the Electoral Commission is conducting the General Update of the National Voters Register in preparation for the 2025/2026 General Elections.
Eligible persons are advised to take advantage of the ongoing general update exercise to register or apply for transfer of voting locations within Kawempe Division North, for purposes of the by-election and the general elections.
The registration and transfer of voters from one polling station to another within Kawempe Division North will not take place after Friday 31st January 2025.
However, the registration of voters and receiving and processing applications for transfer of voting location, for purposes of General Elections, will continue in Kawempe Division North, as per the programme for the General Update of the National Voters Register for the 2025/2026 General Elections, which ends on 10th February 2025.
b) Participation in the Display of the Voters’ Register at all the polling stations within Kawempe Division North, from Monday 10th February to Wednesday 19th February 2025.
This display exercise will enable voters to verify the correctness of their particulars on the Register.
c) Participation in scrutinizing the displayed lists of persons recommended for deletion from the Voters’ Register, from Wednesday 19th to Monday 24th February 2025 at the respective parish/ward headquarters in the Constituency. .
This display exercise will enable any person who may have been wrongly recommended for deletion to object to the Parish Tribunal. Therefore, I appeal to you to mobilize voters to take advantage of this natural justice, to avoid disenfranchisement of any voter(s);
d) The Commission will also issue Voter Location Slips (VLS) to voters whose particulars appear on the polling Register, from Friday 28th February to Thursday 13th March 2025. The VLS will help the voters conveniently locate their polling stations on polling day;
e) Participation on polling day for the Directly-elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North Constituency and the Directly-elected Councillor for Kazo-Angola Ward, Kawempe Division, which is scheduled for Thursday 13th March 2025.
The Commission further wishes to highlight the following important dates in the electoral programme:
a) The nomination of candidates will be conducted at the Office of the Assistant Returning Officer, Kawempe Division, in Kawempe, on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th February, 2025;
b) The inspection of candidates’ nomination papers and lodging of official complaints, if any, will be conducted from Thursday 27th February until Wednesday 5th March, 2025;
c) Candidates’ campaign meetings shall take place from Friday 28th February until Tuesday 11th March 2025.
All persons participating in the by-elections shall be required to comply with guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission.
Byabakama urged stakeholders to mobilise the voters to attend the candidates’ campaign rallies so that they make informed choices.
“I particularly appeal to the prospective candidates to desist from organising supporters into processions marching to and from campaign venues,” he said, adding that campaign gatherings must stop at the designated campaign venue and should not be extended onto public roads. I urge the Uganda Police Force to enforce this guideline.
He also appealed to the Political Parties and prospective candidates to call upon their supporters to observe law and order, transparency, and fairness aimed at having peaceful, free, fair, and credible elections without any violence. Just like in any competitive race, participate well knowing that there will only be one winner for each elective position, voted by the majority of the people.
In order to ensure a successful by-election, the Electoral Commission has designed and will implement the following strategies:
a) Holding consultative meetings with stakeholders and prospective candidates at regular intervals (starting with this consultative meeting)
b) Extending invitation to candidates and/or their representatives to witness critical preparatory activities like the packing of election materials, dispatch, and transportation to the Returning Officer’s office and eventually to the polling stations, as a way of enhancing transparency and accountability;
c) Close collaboration with the Uganda Police Force during the entire electoral period to ensure a peaceful electoral environment;
d) Additional assignments to the Sub-County and Parish/Ward Supervisors to publicize the activities to enhance publicity and mobilise voters for effective participation in the exercise;
e) Use of the media (radio, TV, print media, outdoor, social media) to publicize the electoral programme and also to conduct voter education throughout the district;
f) Creation of the City Division Liaison Committee aimed at speedy resolution of conflicts that may arise during the by-election period;
g) Intensive monitoring and supervision of all by-election activities by the Commission;
h) Provision for the training of candidates’ agents alongside our polling day officials on Monday 10th and Tuesday 11thMarch, 2025. This training will equip agents with knowledge and skills to enable them to effectively observe the polling day activities.
Political Parties/Independent Candidates are encouraged to nominate and facilitate their agents for this important training. They should be issued with formal appointment letters.
i) Official gazetting of all the 197 polling stations for the Directly-elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North Constituency and the 08 polling stations for the Directly-elected Councillor for Kazo-Angola Ward, Kawempe Division.
j) Limiting the number of vehicles at the nomination venue, that is, not more than two (2) vehicles per candidate and with a maximum of ten (10) people in each vehicle, which must also bear a Police Sticker;
a) Provision of serialised Declaration of Results (DR) Forms for each polling station, which agents will be required to sign at the end of the polling exercise to confirm the authenticity of the election results;
b) Establishment of a Complaints Desk on polling day to enable expeditious handling of emerging issues related to the by-elections;
c) Accreditation of various stakeholders to observe the electoral process. The Commission will prepare and issue special identification tags to accredited persons.
All interested and eligible persons and organisations are, therefore, advised to submit their applications following the guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission (http://ec.or.ug), at least two weeks before polling day;
The Commission will accredit five (5) observers per Ward (Parish) for each participating party/independent candidate (optional). Observer Guidelines have been prepared for issuance to all accredited observers.
I, however, caution such accredited persons and organisations to exercise neutrality and not interfere with any of the electoral processes;
d) The Commission will issue a copy of the final Polling Register to the candidates for distribution to their Agents for use at every polling station to ease the identification of voters and thus reduce complaints between Polling officials and the Agents.
However, to enhance transparency in preparatory electoral processes, the Commission will avail, upon official request, the Voters’ Register for Kawempe Division North, on sale in both soft and hard copy, with a CD costing Shs. 100,000/-.
The cost of a text Register and/or a photo-bearing Register will be assessed upon written application to the Secretary, of the Electoral Commission. The assessed cost should first be paid to a prescribed bank before a copy of the Register is prepared by the Commission.
“Please note that there is usually a slight difference between the Register bought before polling day (before display/cleaning) and the one used on Polling day because of the changes made after the display of the Voters’ Register. The Electoral Commission pledges total commitment to organise and conduct the by-elections in a free and fair manner. The Commission further welcomes proposals and suggestions aimed at ensuring the conduct of free and fair electoral activities in Kawempe Division North,” EC boss said.
He added: “The conduct of an election involves many stakeholders; adherence to the electoral laws and guidelines by all stakeholders during the entire electoral process is therefore very crucial. Where one is not sure, please contact the Electoral Commission through the Returning Officer, Mr. Makabayi Henry, who will work with Ms. Nasuuna Rehemah the Assistant District Administrator/ Assistant Returning Officer who will routinely inform you of any other developments. We are all stakeholders in this exercise, and let us work together to deliver a peaceful, free, and fair by-election to the mutual satisfaction of all stakeholders”.
