In the wake of the novel Covid-19 pandemic, the Electoral Commission announced this week a revised election roadmap for the 2021 polls in which the campaign rallies would be conducted on TVs and radio stations. This, however, triggered several debates from politicians and critics blasting the Election body for not consulting stakeholders before coming up with the revised program.

Speaking on local television, on Wednesday, the Electoral Commission spokesperson, Jotham Taremwa said their mandate does not include consulting stakeholders before coming up with an election program.

“When the electoral commission is preparing an electoral program, it does not require to subject that decision to anyone’s opinion. We don’t require anybody’s permission as per article 61 of the constitution to tell us to release a program or not. It can only be done through an amendment,” Taremwa said.

“What we do in accordance with the law and in exercising our mandate as per the constitution, when you release a program, you subject it to stakeholders.” He added.

Taremwa further said that stakeholders and other members of the public can send in their views about the election roadmap after it has been released but not before.

“If you release a program, you subject it to stakeholders. The amendment is within the time given. They can say we have given them few days and need to increase or have been given many days and need them reduced. If we come up with guidelines, stakeholders can say, this will not be helpful and we can change that.”He said.

Public Reaction

Former journalist turned evangelist and political commentator Joseph Kabuleta has threatened to drag the Electoral Commission over its revised roadmap for the 2021 general elections.

Through his lawyers of Walyemera and Company Advocates, Kabuleta says the Election body ought to consult all stakeholders before implementing the revised roadmap.

“The said revised roadmap in the guise of observing Covid-19 public health guidelines not only threatens but also violates the citizens’ fundamental constitutional rights to vote, to elect their leaders and also participate in public affairs,” Kabuleta says.

“This revised roadmap also alludes to scientific election campaigns that will only be conducted through media which is a blatant violation of electoral laws.” He adds.

Political players like Hon. Ssemujju Nganda, Member of parliament for Kira Municipality have also rubbished the Electoral Commission’s road map citing that it is baseless.