The Independent Electoral Commission Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama has said that some political candidates are acting in total defiance of the given Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) intended to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Byabakama said the commission has already issued a press statement warning about non compliance to SOPs by political candidates. He revealed that EC will be required to take other measures to control candidates.
“Matters of elections are governed by the law and the law provides circumstances under which a candidate can be disqualified. We are still examining these in regards to non compliance,” Justice Byabakama said before he explained that during nominations some candidates raised objection on taking the COVID-19 test but EC stood its ground.
“At the end of the exercise, three people that were meant to accompany presidential aspirants to the nomination grounds tested positive for COVID-19,” he disclosed.
Today will be day four of presidential and parliamentary campaigns and Byabakama has urged candidates to conduct campaigns as per the EC and Ministry of Health guidelines.