A. Introduction
Our esteemed partners, members of the press, it is my privilege and pleasure to welcome you to our weekly press briefing.
Today, the Commission would like to update the public concerning the preparations for nomination of candidates, the progress of cleaning the National Voters’ Register and the arrangements for the National Prayer Week.
B. Preparations for Nomination of Candidates
The Electoral Commission shall conduct the nomination of candidates for various elective positions during October and November, 2010. The exercise shall start with the nomination of Presidential candidates scheduled for 25th and 26th October 2010, at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, starting at 10:00am until 4:00pm on each day.
Aspiring candidates for the various elective positions to carefully note the following:
1. Nomination papers shall be subjected to thorough scrutiny to ensure compliance with the requirements specified in the electoral laws.
2. The Commission shall not accept payment of the non-refundable nomination fee of 8,000,000/- in cash at the nomination venue. Aspiring candidates are advised to pay the fee and obtain General Receipt in respect of the payment from the Electoral Commission before nomination day to the following account:
Bank: Account Title: Account No.
Stanbic Bank Electoral Commission Non-Tax Revenue Account
0141001072873101
3. The Commission shall not accept partial submission of supporter forms required for any elective position. Accordingly, in the case of Presidential candidates, each aspirant shall be required to submit supporter forms with a total number of 100 signatures from at least 75 districts (representing 2/3 of the 112 districts of Uganda as per law), that is, a total of 7,500 signatures.
4.In order to enable aspiring candidates organize their submissions, the Commission has extended the period in which submission of supporter forms for verification should be made. Forms can now be submitted to the Commission, one week before the nomination date that is, on 18th October 2010.
5.The Commission has made provision for aspiring candidates to book their preferred time on any of the appointed dates. We wish to emphasise that the period (of two days) for nomination of Presidential candidates is fixed and the gazette dates cannot be extended.
6.Aspiring candidates are also requested to submit the names of twenty supporters who will accompany them to the nomination venue, to the Commission by 18th October 2010, to enable the Commission process their invitation.
C.National Prayer Week 18th – 24th October 2010
The Electoral Commission, in conjunction with the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (ICRU) has organized a National Prayer Week scheduled for 18th – 24th October 2010.
We believe that Uganda should remain a peaceful place, accommodating all of us, irrespective of our diverse political shades. Accordingly, the Commission and Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, request all Ugandans to mobilize the members of each respective local community to advocate and promote the virtues of tolerance and peaceful co-existence before, during and after the elections.
Further to the above, the Commission has organized a national event to be held on Thursday 21st October 2010, at Kololo Independence Grounds, off Wampewo Avenue, Kampala, starting at 10:00am.
The Commission and the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, therefore, warmly invite the general public to participate in the activities of the week, and to attend the national event on 21st October 2010 in large numbers.
D. Status of Cleaning the Uganda National Voters’ Register
The Commission wishes to inform our dear stakeholders that the exercise of cleaning the National Voters’ Register is on course and in advanced stages. This stage involves deleting ineligible persons on the Register (the dead, those who left area, the non-citizens and the under-aged, and duplicates, if any), as per the recommendations made by the public and the Parish Tribunals during the Display of the National Voters Register, which took place between 11th August 2010 and 13th September 2010.
The Commission shall shortly publish the total number of voters on the Register to be used during the nomination of candidates and later on during the elections in 2011.
E. Declaration of Election Results
The Electoral Commission has noted with concern the anxiety caused by media reports in which some stakeholders expressed intentions of setting parallel result transmission system for the purpose of declaring results of the 2011 General Elections.
The Commission wishes to draw the attention of Ugandans to: 1. Article 61 (d) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, which states that “The Electoral Commission shall ascertain, publish and declare in writing under its seal the results of the elections and referenda,” and,
2. Article 103(7) of the Constitution which states that “The Electoral Commission shall ascertain, publish and declare in writing under its seal the results of the Presidential Elections within 48 hours from the close of polling.”‘
Therefore, the power to declare results of elections is vested with the national Electoral Commission, and any attempt by individuals and organisations to assume such powers shall be a violation of the Constitution, which is not acceptable.
The Commission wishes to assure the public that the elections will be conducted in a transparent free and fair manner, in a secure environment, and the results shall be declared in accordance with the specified legal provisions.
The Commission has made sufficient arrangements to ensure that all stakeholders in the electoral process, including political parties, are accredited for purposes of participating and observing various stages of the electoral process, which include polling and tallying results, at district offices and at the National Tally Center.
Conclusion
As the electoral process enters into another critical stage, the Electoral Commission requests the people of Uganda, and all stakeholders to support these processes through enthusiastic participation, and in accordance with the electoral laws.
Let us all remain committed to ensuring a free and fair electoral process. I thank you, For God and My Country,
Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu
Chairperson Uganda Electoral Commission
