This morning, the Electoral Commission (EC) has held a press conference at their headquarters in Kampala to address questions that have been mounting on how the 2021 elections will be conducted among other things like nomination of candidates and campaigns.
With the COVID-19 pandemic upon us, the public has been wondering whether we shall have a scientific election, like how other events have been conducted scientifically through the pandemic like graduations, conferences, burials among others, and the EC has come out to revise their roadmap in light of COVID-19.
EC Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama has through this press conference said that there have been changes to make sure the general public remains safe from COVID, but having the country proceed with having elections next year.
Byabakama has said that unlike in the past where candidates have had multitudes of people escorting them for nominations and doing the same during campaigns, this time it this are going to be different.
All candidates will conduct their campaigns through media like radio and TV stations, print media and their own social media platforms. Byabakama said that the law requires for state-owned media companies to give all candidates the same airtime to spell out their views during campaigns.
The EC chairman has reiterated that elections will go on as planned on February 8, 2021, and these will not be conducted scientifically because voters are required to present themselves physically at polling stations to be identified and verified.
However, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will be employed to make sure voters don’t gather in big numbers centrally to social distancing directives.
Additionally, all Polling Officers will be availed with facemasks, and polling stations will have handwashing facilities.
Nominations
- Presidential candidates – November 2 – 3, 2020, campaigns from November 10, 2020 – January 8, 2021
- Members of Parliament – October 12 – 13, 2020, campaigns from October 20, 2020 – January 8, 2021
Declaration of education documents
For those who have education documents that are not the required A-Level certificate but have equivalent qualifications, these are the dates to declare them to the EC:
- Those vying for local government positions – Before July 7.
- Those vying for Parliamentary positions – Before August 11, 2020.
- Those vying for Presidential position – Before September 1.
Byabakama has said that Public Servants who want to stand for political positions should resign by June 29, 2020.
Although these changes have been announced, Justice Byabakama has said that in case COVID-19 ceases from being a threat and the Ministry of Health advices that things can go back to normal, the Commission will advise the candidates and public accordingly.