Uganda’s Electoral Commission has released a revised roadmap for 2020/21 General Elections after almost three months of low-key electoral activity.
Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon (pictured), the Chairperson, Electoral Commission says that the coronavirus pandemic has had an effect on some electoral activities under the Roadmap for the 2020/2021 General Elections.
In a statmement dated June16, 2020, Byabakama says that on the 23rd day of March, 2020, when Government declared a nationwide lockdown, the Commission was already implementing preliminary activities under the Roadmap for the 2020/2021 General Elections. Namely; update and display of the National Voters Register and Registers of Special interest groups
The Commission was particularly carrying out activities for the conduct of elections for the Special Interest Groups (Persons with Disability, Older Persons, Youth) Committees from Village to National Levels. This was to be followed by other preparatory activities for elections of Local Government Councils, Members of Parliament and the President.
“The Electoral Commission postponed the above activities under the Roadmap, in response to measures introduced by Government to prevent the spread of the deadly Coronavirus. This is because electoral activities involve public gatherings and hence pose high COVID-19 risk of person-to-person and object-to-person transmissions,” Byabakama says.
He adds: “As a result of the postponement, the Commission has lost three months of critical Roadmap activities. The postponement of Roadmap activities also caused inconvenience to various stakeholders in the electoral process. This includes political parties and organisations, which were preparing internal primaries to identify persons to contest as candidates at various elective levels, as well as individuals who are aspiring to contest as independent candidates at various levels. All the inconvenience is regretted, but as we all know, the postponement was inevitable.”
He notes that the Commission recognises the constitutional right of citizens to vote and choose their leaders, as well as our duty to facilitate the exercise of those rights.
“The Commission is further mindful of the need to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all stakeholders during the electoral process.
Accordingly, after consultations with, and expert guidance from the Ministry of Health, the Commission has considered and approved a revised Roadmap for the 2020/2021 General Elections,” he says.
This Revised Roadmap highlights the dates for commencement of various key electoral activities, namely, nominations, campaigns and polling for various elective positions, that is, Presidential, General Parliamentary and Local Government Councils. The Roadmap also highlights the period for conduct of elections for Special Interest Groups (Persons with Disability, Older Persons and Youth) Committees from Village to National Levels.
Some of the key dates in the revised Roadmap are highlighted here below:
| No | Activity | Period |
| Political Party and Organisations to identify flag bearers | 22nd June – 21st July 2020 | |
| Deadline for resignation by public servants wishing to participate in Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Committees Elections | 29th June 2020 | |
| Nomination of Village SIGs (Older Persons, Persons with Disability and Youth) Committees Candidates (see attached detailed for progressive levels up to National) | 5th August 2020 | |
| Deadline for establishment of academic papers with Electoral Commission by aspiring candidates for Local Government | 7th July 2020 | |
| Deadline for establishment of academic papers with Electoral Commission by aspiring candidates for Parliamentary Elections | 11th August 2020 | |
| Deadline for establishment of academic papers with Electoral Commission by aspiring candidates for Presidential Elections | 1st September 2020 | |
| Deadline for resignation by public servants aspiring to contest for Parliamentary Elections | 12th July 2020 | |
| Deadline for resignation by public servants aspiring to contest for Local Government Councils Elections | 6th August 2020 | |
| Deadline for resignation by public servants aspiring to contest for SIG Representative to Parliament | 7th August 2020 | |
| Deadline for resignation by public servants aspiring to contest for Presidential Elections | 31st October 2020 | |
| Period for nomination of candidates for Local Governments, including SIGs | 7th – 17th September 2020 | |
| Nomination of Candidates for Parliamentary Elections | 12th – 13th October 2020 | |
| Nomination of Candidates for Presidential Elections | 2nd – 3rd November 2020 | |
| Harmonisdation of Campaign Programme and Signing of Memorandum | 4th – 9th November 2020 | |
| Conduct of candidates’ campaigns digitally for Local Government | 28th September 2020 – 8th January 2021 | |
| Conduct of candidates’ campaigns digitally for Parliamentary Elections | 20th October 2020 – 8th January 2021 | |
| Conduct of candidates’ campaigns digitally for Presidential Elections | 10th November 2020 – 8th January 2021 | |
| Polling period for General Elections (exact polling dates to be appointed in due course) | 10th January – 8th February 2021 |
“The Commission wishes to assure our esteemed stakeholders that this Roadmap has been revised with careful consideration of the operational requirements for the electoral activities and the legal framework governing the conduct of elections, however, under reduced timeframes,” Byabakama says.
He adds that given the Covid-19 pandemic, and health risks involved and the expectations during the electoral activities, preparations and conduct of these elections will take different modes.
“..The Commission will avail nomination forms on its website that can be printed by those with access to the internet. However, for those with no access to internet, hard copies will be availed. Important to note is that we will only allow an aspiring candidate with only two (2) people; the nominator and a seconder,” he says, adding: “Mass rallies will not be allowed but campaigns will be conducted mainly through media.”
He says that the Commission will issue specific guidelines for each electoral activity under this revised Roadmap in due course and will engage with various stakeholders on the same.
“Furthermore, the Commission in consultation with the Ministry of Health considered and adopted Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to facilitate safe participation by all stakeholders in the electoral process,” he adds.
He concluded by urging political parties and aspiring independent candidates to ensure safe practices during primaries and other preparatory activities. Candidates, their agents and supporters are urged to strictly follow the guidelines on public meetings as issued by the Ministry of Health.
