The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has faulted Electoral Commission and Government for failure to gazette the specific date for the 2021 general elections.
According to the Electoral Commission, the general elections will take place between January 10th and February 8th, 2020. The Commission is yet to specify the exact date for the presidential and parliamentary elections, which has drawn the attention of parliament.
However, the Attorney General, William Byaruhanga, says the commission is obliged by law to communicate the specific date for the General election after finalizing with the presidential and parliamentary nominations.
On Tuesday, parliament tasked Government to explain the failure to communicate the exact polling dates. According to Kadaga, the lack of clarity on the polling dates is stopping candidates from making their campaign programs.
“I really want to complain on behalf of the citizens about this lack of clarity on this issue. Candidates have been asked to prepare programs but there is no starting date and no concluding date, so it’s difficult for members to submit programs. In addition, the absence of clarity on this issue is affecting the judiciary as you know election petitions take priority and it is important for the judiciary to take this into account while making their programs,” Kadaga said.
Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, says despite being asked to submit a campaign program, he cannot do so since he doesn’t know when the elections will be held. He says there is no way they can start campaigning without knowing when it will end.
Cecilia Ogwal, the Dokolo Woman MP says her entire campaign is disorganized, saying that some of them organize their campaigns on the declaration of dates by the Electoral Commission.
Parliament has tasked the Attorney General and responsible Government Ministers to respond to their queries on why the election dates haven’t been appointed. Following the successful completion of parliamentary nominations, Electoral Commission asked the candidates to prepare their campaign plans in a space of one and a half weeks.
- Latest
- Trending
