With just hours to Uganda’s Village Women Committee elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) has begun hearing complaints arising from voter registration and candidate nominations, even as it insists the country’s grassroots electoral programme remains firmly on course. Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi said the Commission had entered the final […]
With just hours to Uganda’s Village Women Committee elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) has begun hearing complaints arising from voter registration and candidate nominations, even as it insists the country’s grassroots electoral programme remains firmly on course.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi said the Commission had entered the final phase of preparations for the Village Women Committees elections scheduled for Thursday, July 23, and the Village (LC I) Chairperson elections due on Tuesday, July 28.
Byabakama revealed that although the Commission had successfully completed voter registration, display of village registers and nomination of candidates, several complaints had been lodged by stakeholders, prompting the Commission to intervene.
He explained that complaints concerning the compilation of the Village Council and Village Women’s Council registers had already been handled by the respective Parish Complaints Committees.
However, disputes arising from the nomination of candidates have now been referred to the Electoral Commission itself for hearing and determination.
“The Commission will commence hearing the said complaints today, Wednesday, July 22, and will inform stakeholders of the respective decisions and lawful actions taken,” Byabakama said.
He appealed to candidates, political parties and members of the public to remain patient as the Commission carefully examines every complaint before issuing its decisions.
The EC Chairperson said despite the complaints, preparations for the elections had progressed successfully since the electoral programme was launched on June 22.
Between July 6 and 10, the Commission compiled both the Village Council Register and the Village Women’s Council Register in all 71,214 villages across Uganda.
The exercise was followed by the display of the registers on July 13 and 14, allowing residents to verify their names, National Identification Numbers, application numbers, age, gender and village of residence before the registers were finalized.
Residents also had an opportunity to object to people who had been wrongly included on the registers or those who were not eligible to vote.
Byabakama thanked Ugandans, local leaders and other stakeholders for actively participating in the registration exercise, saying their cooperation had enabled the Commission to prepare accurate and reliable registers for use during the elections.
The Commission later conducted nominations for Village LC I Chairperson candidates and Village Women Committee candidates between July 15 and 19 at Sub-county, Town Council and Municipal Division headquarters.
He congratulated all successfully nominated candidates while commending political parties and independent candidates for participating in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, campaigns for Village Women Committee elections, which began on July 20, officially end today ahead of polling on Thursday.
Registered women will elect five leaders at village level, Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Publicity Secretary and Secretary for Finance, through the lining-up voting system, where voters stand behind their preferred candidate, representative, portrait or symbol.
Byabakama urged women to participate peacefully and elect leaders capable of championing issues affecting women in their communities.
At the same time, campaigns for Village LC I Chairperson candidates will continue until July 27.
The Commission reminded candidates that campaigns are only allowed between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and must be conducted strictly within their own villages.
“No candidate is allowed to campaign outside his or her village,” Byabakama emphasized.
Polling for LC I Chairpersons will take place on July 28 in all 71,214 villages, with every village serving as a polling station.
Voting will begin at 7:00 a.m. with voter verification before election officials conduct voter education and briefing sessions. Voting by lining up behind candidates will then take place, followed immediately by counting of votes and declaration of winners.
Successful LC I Chairpersons will then nominate members of the Village Executive Committee, who must be approved by the Village Council.
Byabakama also reminded voters that the elections are taking place amid the ongoing Ebola situation and urged everyone to observe Ministry of Health guidelines throughout the campaigns and polling exercise.
He concluded by calling on political parties, candidates and voters to respect electoral laws and Commission guidelines to ensure peaceful, credible and orderly grassroots elections.
