EC Sets Dates for Elections of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Councils, Committees

The Electoral Commission has finalized preparations for the nomination of candidates for elections of Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and Youth Councils and Committees at the Village/Cell level, officials announced on Thursday morning.

The nomination of candidates for Village/Cell Committees will be conducted over a period of six (6) days that is, from Wednesday 29th July to Wednesday 5th August 2020 at the respective Sub County/Town Council/Municipal Division headquarters, starting at 9:00am and closing at 5:00pm on each day.

“Nomination forms will be available for collection from the respective Sub County/Town Council/Municipal Division offices in each district throughout Uganda from Thursday 23rd July. The forms can also be downloaded from the Electoral Commission website: www.ec.or.ug,” said the electoral body as the country braces for yet another general election.

No nomination fee and academic qualifications shall be required for nomination of candidates for Village/Cell SIGs Committees.

The EC has since moved on with the polls, saying adequate measures were put in place to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

The opposition and civil society have called for the postponement of the election exercise until the country is fully prepared for the exercise.

Timeline

EC said campaigns shall be conducted from Thursday 6th to Monday 10th August 2020, and polling for the various SIGs will take place on different dates in all the 68,740 villages across Uganda.

Polling for Village Older Persons Committees shall take place on Tuesday 11th July 2020, with a total of 1,701,518 (one million seven hundred one thousand five hundred and eighteen) willing persons registered to vote in the exercise.

Polling for Village PWD Committees will be held on Thursday 13th August 2020, with a total of 382,577 (three hundred eighty-two thousand five hundred and seventy-seven) willing persons registered to vote in this exercise.

The elections of Village Youth Committees shall take place on Monday 17th August 2020, with a total of 7,846,373 (seven million eight hundred forty-six thousand three hundred and seventy-three) willing youths registered to vote in this exercise.

The EC emphasised that the elections will be conducted by voters (members of the respective electoral colleges) lining behind candidates’ portraits or candidates’ symbols or candidates’ agents or the individual candidates of their choice.

“All persons participating in the elections shall 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. This includes observing social distancing, hand cleaning, and wearing of masks,” the statement added.