Tiger FM

Electoral Commission releases roadmap for Kawempe North by-elections

27 January 2025, 7:26 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Electoral Commission, led by the Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, and other top management, has released the roadmap for Kawempe North Division constituency by-elections. In a statement read by the Chairperson: “On behalf of the Electoral Commission, I extend my appreciation to you, the city and division political, security, religious, and civil society leadership, for the cooperation you have always accorded the Commission in the execution of its constitutional mandate of organising and conducting regular free and fair elections, which is a foundation for promoting participatory democracy and good governance in Uganda,” Byabakama said.

Justice Simon Byabakama, the Electoral Commission Chairperson.

We continue to appreciate the smooth collaboration with stakeholders. “Thank you for honoring this invitation to meet and deliberate on matters concerning the electoral processes for the by-elections of the Directly-Elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North Constituency and the Directly-Elected Councillor for Kazo-Angola Ward, Kawempe Division,” he stated.

The Kawempe North Parliamentary seat became vacant following the death of the former representative (MP), Hon. Ssegirinya Muhammad, on 9th January 2025. “On behalf of the Electoral Commission and on my own behalf, I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, the people of Kawempe North, and all friends on the bereavement caused by his death. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.

As required by the Constitution, the timeframe for conducting this by-election is sixty (60) days after the Clerk to Parliament has notified the Commission about the vacancy. In this case, the said period will lapse on 15th March 2025. Accordingly, the Electoral Commission has approved the electoral programme for this by-election. During this by-election programme, the Commission will also fill the vacancy for the Directly-Elected Councillor for Kazo-Angola Ward, Kawempe Division.

The Electoral Commission has already commenced various activities to conduct the by-elections. Publicity and voter education have already started and will be enhanced through local announcements and updates by the Electoral Commission through the Returning Officer. These will be assisted by subcounty and parish supervisors.

The Chairperson appealed to stakeholders to work with them for a peaceful process. “As stakeholders, I appeal for your cooperation and support in the mobilisation and sensitisation of stakeholders. The Commission believes that the successful filling of the vacancies will depend, among other things, on your partnership, positive/unbiased mobilisation, and sensitisation of the electorate to observe law and order and to actively but peacefully participate in the entire electoral process,” Byabakama noted.

The Commission appeals to the people of Kawempe North to participate in the update of the National Voters’ Register exercise in Kawempe North, which will specifically commence today, Monday, 27th January, and end on Friday, 31st January 2025. Please note that this by-election is being conducted at a time when the Electoral Commission is conducting the general update of the National Voters Register in preparation for the 2025/2026 General Elections.

Eligible persons are advised to take advantage of the ongoing general update exercise to register or apply for a transfer of voting locations within Kawempe Division North for purposes of the by-election and the general elections. The registration and transfer of voters from one polling station to another within Kawempe Division North will not take place after Friday, 31st January 2025. However, the registration of voters and receiving and processing applications for the transfer of voting locations, for purposes of general elections, will continue in Kawempe Division North, as per the programme for the general update of the National Voters Register for the 2025/2026 General Elections, which ends on 10th February 2025.

The display of the Voters’ Register will occur at all polling stations within Kawempe Division North from Monday, 10th February, to Wednesday, 19th February 2025. This display exercise will enable voters to verify the correctness of their particulars on the register and scrutinise the displayed lists of persons recommended for deletion from the Voters’ Register, from Wednesday, 19th February, to Monday, 24th February 2025, at the respective parish/ward headquarters in the constituency. “This display exercise will enable any person who may have been wrongly recommended for deletion to object to the parish tribunal. Therefore, I appeal to you to mobilise voters to take advantage of this natural justice to avoid disenfranchisement of any voter(s),” he said.

The Electoral Commission will also issue Voter Location Slips (VLS) to voters whose particulars appear on the polling register from Friday, 28th February, to Thursday, 13th March 2025. The VLS will help the voters conveniently locate their polling stations on polling day and participate on polling day for the Directly-Elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North Constituency and the Directly-Elected Councillor for Kazo-Angola Ward, Kawempe Division, scheduled for Thursday, 13th March 2025.

The nomination of candidates will be conducted at the office of the Assistant Returning Officer, Kawempe Division, on Wednesday, 26th, and Thursday, 27th February 2025. The inspection of candidates’ nomination papers and lodging of official complaints, if any, will be conducted from Thursday, 27th February, until Wednesday, 5th March 2025. Candidates’ campaign meetings shall take place from Friday, 28th February, until Tuesday, 11th March 2025. All persons participating in the by-elections shall be required to comply with guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission.

Every stakeholder is urged to mobilise voters to attend candidates’ campaign rallies so that they can make informed choices. Byabakama particularly appealed to prospective candidates to desist from organising supporters into processions marching to and from campaign venues. “Campaign gatherings must stop at the designated campaign venue and should not be extended onto public roads. I urge the Uganda Police Force to enforce this guideline. I also appeal to political parties and prospective candidates to call upon their supporters to observe law and order, transparency, and fairness aimed at having peaceful, free, fair, and credible elections without any violence. Just like in any competitive race, participate well knowing that there will only be one winner for each elective position, voted by the majority of the people,” he said.

In order to ensure a successful by-election, the Electoral Commission has designed and will be holding consultative meetings with stakeholders and prospective candidates at regular intervals (starting with this consultative meeting). The Commission will also extend invitations to candidates and/or their representatives to witness critical preparatory activities, like the packing of election materials, dispatch, and transportation to the Returning Officer’s office and eventually to the polling stations, as a way of enhancing transparency and accountability. Additionally, the Commission plans close collaboration with the Uganda Police Force during the entire electoral period to ensure a peaceful electoral environment, assignments to subcounty and parish/ward supervisors to publicise activities, and extensive use of media to enhance voter education and mobilisation throughout the district.

Intensive monitoring and supervision of all by-election activities will be conducted by the Commission, alongside the provision of training for candidates’ agents and polling day officials on Monday, 10th, and Tuesday, 11th March 2025. Political parties/independent candidates are encouraged to nominate and facilitate their agents for this critical training and issue formal appointment letters.

In conclusion, the Commission will officially gazette all the 197 polling stations for the Directly-Elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North Constituency and the 8 polling stations for the Directly-Elected Councillor for Kazo-Angola Ward, Kawempe Division. Measures such as limiting vehicles at the nomination venue, providing serialised Declaration of Results (DR) Forms, establishing a Complaints Desk, and accrediting stakeholders to observe the electoral process are in place to ensure a credible and transparent election. “The Commission will also issue a copy of the final Polling Register to candidates for distribution to their agents to ease the identification of voters and reduce complaints between polling officials and agents,” Byabakama said.

Observers will be accredited per ward, with guidelines issued to ensure neutrality. The Commission will also make the Voters’ Register for Kawempe Division North available for purchase upon official request.

Stakeholders at the meeting.