Electoral Commission of Uganda

Electoral Commission

Agency overview
Formed	1997; 28 years ago (1997)
Jurisdiction	Uganda
Headquarters	Kampala
Agency executive	Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, Chair
Website	Homepage

The Electoral Commission of Uganda, also Uganda Electoral Commission, is a constitutionally established organ of the Government of Uganda, whose mandate is to "organise and conduct regular, free and fair elections" in the country, in an efficient, professional and impartial manner.^[1]

Location

The Electoral Commission maintains its headquarters at 55 Jinja Road, in the Central Division of Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda.^[2] The coordinates of the headquarters of the Uganda Electoral Commission are:0°19'00.0"N, 32°35'39.0"E (Latitude:0.316675; Longitude:32.594154).^[3]

History

The law that led to establishment of the electoral commission was promulgated in 1997. The first Electoral commission served from 1997 until 2002. The current commission came into office in 2016 for a seven-year term, renewable once only. This commission headed by Justice of the High Court, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, replaces that which was headed by Engineer Badru Kiggundu that served two terms (2002–2009 and 2009–2016). Other commissioners include Hajjat Aisha Lubega (vice chairperson) and commissioners Peter Emorut, Steven Tashobya, Justine Ahabwe Mugabi, Nathaline Etomaru and Mustapha Ssebaggala Kigozi. During their first year in office, they organised and supervised by-elections. The first nationwide election that they are expected to organise is the election of the Local Council leaders. As of April 2018, those were being delayed by lack of sufficient funds.^[4]

Commissioners

The following are the current commissioners (2016–2022)^[5] The new team was sworn in on 17 January 2017.^[6]

1. Simon Mugenyi Byabakama: Chairperson
2. Hajjat Aisha Lubega: Deputy Chairperson
3. Peter Emorut: Commissioner
4. Justine Ahabwe Mugabi: Commissioner
5. Stephen Tashobya: Commissioner
6. Mustapha Ssebagala Kigozi: Commissioner
7. Nathaline Etomaru: Commissioner

Controversy

The Electoral Commission has repeatedly been accused of not being impartial. In the Presidential Elections of 2021 there were 409 polling stations with a 100% turnout, all of which were won by President Museveni.^[7] Election forms (so-called Declaration of Results) have been altered at the advantage of president Museveni in a way that the Electoral Commission has not been able to explain.^[8]

References

1. UCU (5 August 2016). "Mission, Vision and Goal". Uganda: Electoral Commission of Uganda (ECU). Retrieved 5 August 2016.
2. ECU (6 August 2015), Uganda Electoral Commission: Head Office, Kampala: Electoral Commission of Uganda (ECU), retrieved 6 August 2015
3. "Location of the Headquarters of the Electoral Commission of Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
4. Nabwiso, Samuel (17 April 2018). "Uganda's EC seeks Ushs7bn for local council elections". East African Business Week. Kampala. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
5. Kafeero, Stephen (18 November 2018). "Justice Simon Byabakama replaces Kiggundu as EC chairperson". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
6. Vision Reporter (17 January 2017). "New Electoral Commission team sworn in". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
7. "Observers baffled by 100% voter turnout". Observer. 17 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-02-17.
8. "Something doesn't add up". The Continent. Archived from the original on 2021-03-06.

External links

• Website of Electoral Commission of Uganda
• Staging an election in Uganda: Kiggundu’s third act - 2 March 2016