The nomination of candidates to contest in Local Government Councils By-elections will be conducted starting today, Monday 29th November 2021.
According to Electoral Commission Acting Spokesperson, Paul Bukenya, the nominations will be conducted at the respective District/City headquarters, in those electoral areas where the vacancies exist, beginning at 9am and ending at 5pm.
“Aspiring candidates will be required to fulfil all the requirements for the nomination for each elective position,” Bukenya says, adding: “Aspiring candidates and their supporters shall further be required to comply with guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission in accordance with the Government of Uganda and Ministry of Health measures against the spread of COVID-19, which include observing social distancing, hand washing, and wearing of masks.”
Accordingly, EC says, an aspiring candidate shall be accompanied to the nomination venue by only two persons, that is, the proposer and the seconder.
The aspiring candidate will be allowed to use only two (2) vehicles for purposes of attending the nominations and each vehicle shall not carry more than three persons including the driver.
“Convoys and processions shall not be allowed during the nomination exercise,” Bukenya adds.
The categories to be filled during these by-elections include: District Chairperson for Kayunga District; District Women Councilors; District Directly Elected Councilors; Municipality Directly Elected Councilors; Municipality Women Councilors; Sub-county Chairpersons; Sub-county Directly Elected Councilors; Sub-County Women Councilors; and Councilors representing Special Interest Groups (SIGs) (People with Disabilities; Older Persons, Workers and Youth).
According to EC, the nomination exercise will end on Tuesday 30th November 2021.
Candidates’ campaign meetings will be conducted for a period of thirteen (13) days, that is, from 2nd to 14th December 2021.
Polling and tallying of results for elections of Councillors representing Special Interest Groups (SIGs) shall take place on Wednesday 15th December 2021.
Meanwhile, polling for the District Chairperson, Kayunga, and other Local Government Councils shall take place on Thursday 16th December 2021, at all polling stations in the affected electoral areas, EC has said.