Hon. Rwakoojo Wants Government To Release Funds For 2026 General Elections Roadmap

The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee has urged the government to promptly disburse the essential sum of Ugandan Shillings 756.9 billion to the Electoral Commission (EC) to facilitate the implementation of the roadmap for the upcoming 2026 general elections.

Mrs. Robina Rwakoojo, Chairperson of the Committee, highlighted that the EC’s outlined activities for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial years necessitate a total budget of Ugandan Shillings 765.6 billion. However, only a fraction of this amount, Ugandan Shillings 8.6 billion, has been allocated thus far.

Rwakoojo emphasized the critical nature of the planned activities, many of which are bound by statutory timelines and must be executed sequentially. Further delays, she warned, could jeopardize the integrity and fairness of the electoral process.

The committee’s recommendation, presented during a plenary session chaired by Speaker Anita Among, underscores the urgency of securing funding to enable the EC to fulfill its statutory obligations leading up to the general elections.

In addition to the funding concerns, MPs expressed apprehension over the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs’ procrastination in disbursing the approved Ugandan Shillings 11 billion, designated for enhancing the remuneration of the commission. Despite its approval in 2017, this allocation remains pending, raising further anxieties among lawmakers.