By Spy Uganda
Hon. Justice Simon Byabakama, the Chairperson Electoral Commission, has explained why government decided to ban mass political rally campaigns ahead of the 2021 General Elections and opted for ‘Scientific’ elections.
In a lengthy interaction with Online media owners led by Andrew Irumba (president Independent online journalists Association-indoja-U) and Giles Muhame of (Online Media Publishers Association- OMPA), on Thursday at the E.C headquarters along Jinja Road, Justice Byabakama noted that they first extensively consulted the ministry of Health on how they could organize elections without flouting their guidance and SoPs put in place in as far as fighting the spread of COVID-19 is concerned.
“No matter how this may be to several politicians, but it is for the good of all Ugandans. We either had to cancel the exercise or work with in the prevailing circumstances. But remember there’s a constitutional mandate that we have to fulfill before a given period of time,that article is what guides, and it doesn’t tell us to consult the politicians, not, it tells that we’re the sole INDEPENDENT (underline that word independent) organizers of these elections. If any one thinks otherwise,they should go to Parliament and change that. So after guidance from MoH on their part,this is how we shall proceed,” Byabakama said.
EC’s meeting with online media was aimed at creating a partnership with them to help in sensitizing and raising electoral awareness among the voters, and to woo online media to give politicians equal platforms for campaigning when time comes.
“Taking the decision to ban mass political campaign rallies in the forthcoming general elections was done after careful consultations with experts from both the Ministry of Health and World Health Organization, aimed at safeguarding the lives of Ugandans in the wake of the Coronavirus global pandemic.”
He added that; “We rolled out the Roadmap for the general election in 2018 which was scheduled for 2020/21. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic which has devastated most activities not only in Uganda but also across the globe, the Commission found itself caught up in that way of disruption, because the activities were scheduled to have commenced in April but were put on hold.”
“On March 23rd when the government declared the global pandemic, the Commission was already implementing the preliminary programs under the road map for 2020/21 general election and had concluded the display of the national voters’ registers and displaying registers of special interest groups,” Hon. Byabaka explained.
He continued that; “As a result of the postponement, the Commission has lost 3 months of critical roadmap activities. It has inconvenienced stakeholders in the election organization like political parties which were also planning for elections by identifying party flag bearers at various levels”.
Justice Byabakama observed that the Commission recognizes the constitutional rights of citizens to choose their leaders as well as its duty to facilitate the election exercise, noting that the Commission is further mindful of the need to ensure and healthy and safe environment for all stakeholders during this electoral process.
Byabakama explained that the Commission considered and approved the Revised Roadmap which was rolled out on May 16th after consulting and acquiring expert guidance from the Ministry of Health.
“This Roadmap has been revised after careful consideration of the operational requirements of the electoral activities and legal frame work guiding the conduct of the electoral activities,” Byabakama said, adding that;
“As you know campaign rallies are crowd pullers and have carnival atmosphere whose control and management are virtually none existing. In consultation with Ministry of Health on how to ensure social distancing at campaign rallies, the commission found out that it may not be prudent to allow mass campaigns and channeled it through media platforms.”
He expounded narrated that voting will not be scientific as some people claim, because it will require voters to appear in person in order to vote, including the disabled people, although they will be required to wear face masks and wash hands or sanitize.
“It is not going to be remote voting or scientific voting. It’s not like that; even the disabled have to appear in person or with a helper to vote,” Hon Byabakama said.
Commenting about allegations of the Commission being directed by the President or other stakeholders, Byabakama asserted that whatever they do is derived from the constitution, which mandates the E.C to be the sole organizer of elections.
“We do not need to get directives or control by any authority. When we were designing the Roadmap in 2018 we did not consult anyone. We are going by what the law provides. We give out road map to political parties as a guiding document in their election organization”
Hon. Byabakama also commented about requests by some people to postpone the election. He noted that it is a command by Article 61 of the Constitution, which states that; ‘…the commission shall organize and hold elections for Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government within the last 122 days before the expiry of a political term of office.’
“This article is not affected by COVID-19, the commission within the constitution, does not have powers to consider an option of election postponement,” Byabakama noted.
He concluded by revealing that the Commission will hold consultation meetings with broadcasters through their associations to make sure all candidates get equal access to media houses regardless of political parties, such that they can reach out to their voters.
