Electoral Commission kicks off nomination exercise for Local Government by-elections across the country

The electoral commission has Monday kicked off the nomination exercise for candidates vying for residual and by-elections in local governments across the country.

The exercise will run today Monday and end tomorrow Tuesday at the respective District/City headquarters, where vacancies exist. The exercise will begin each day at 9 am and end at 5 pm.

According to Paul Bukenya the Spokesperson of the Electoral Commission, the returning officers will nominate the candidates after successfully updating the registers.

The EC Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama said in a statement on Monday, that aspiring candidates will be required to fulfill all the requirements for the nomination for each elective position.

Aspiring candidates and their supporters shall also be required to comply with guidelines issued by EC in accordance with Ministry of Health measures against COVID-19. These include; observing social distancing, hand washing, & wearing of masks

“An aspiring candidate shall be accompanied to the nomination venue by only 2 persons that is, the proposer and the seconder. The aspiring candidate will be allowed to use only 2 vehicles to attend nominations & each vehicle shall not carry more than 3 persons including the driver. Convoys and processions shall not be allowed during the nomination exercise” Justice Byabakama added.

The categories to be filled during these by-elections include District Chairperson for Kayunga District; District Women Councilors; District Directly Elected Councilors; Municipality Directly Elected Councilors; and Municipality Women Councilors.

Other categories are Sub-county Chairpersons; Sub-county Directly Elected Councilors; Sub-County Women Councilors; and Councillors representing Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Councilors (People with Disabilities; Older Persons, Workers and Youth).

A total of 831 vacancies are set to be filled in these Local Government Councils by-elections in 127 districts across the country. Of these, 21 are LC 3 Chairpersons, and only 1 is for LC 5 Chairperson, Kayunga District.

EC spokesperson Paul Bukenya says that in Kampala Capital City Authority, there are two vacant positions for Nakulabye, and Mutungo councilors. He added that some of the vacancies being filled are a result of death due to COVID19.

After nominations, the EC will be allocating symbols to candidates who are Independent, while Political Parties’ flag bearers will carry their respective party’s symbol on the ballot paper.

According to Bukenya, on polling day, there will be a Biometric Voter Verification Machine and a Voters’ Register at the Polling Stations on polling day.

“Present yourself with a National ID to your respective Polling Station where you are registered. If you don’t have a National ID, still go to your Polling Station where you are registered as a voter, and we will check your particulars in the National Voters’ Register. The Voters’ Register will be printed in color” Bukenya noted.

In Kayunga, the nomination exercise kicked off smoothly this morning. The Democratic Party-DP has fronted Anthony Waddimba, the National Unity Platform-NUP Harriet Nakwedde, while the ruling NRM party is also set to nominate Andrew Muwonge to contest in elections for the LCV Chairperson seat.

The by-election follows the death of Kayunga District LCV Chairperson Ffefeka Sserubugo who was found hanging on a tree, 6 months ago.