EC awaiting major political players to pick forms

By Francis Emorut

AS the clock ticks towards the 2016 general election, the Electoral Commission is eagerly waiting for major political players to pick nominations forms having so far recorded 24 presidential aspirants.

By Friday, 24 aspirants had picked forms to contest as independents.

They include the former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, Abed Bwanika, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, Omar Kalinge Nyago, former Kampala mayor Nasser Ssebagala, Deo Lukyamuzi, Samuel Mutatina and William Ntege.

Others are Joseph Mwabazi, Robert Mutono, Frederick Wuuyo, Rogers Anyako Ovoa, Dan Matsiko, Nkonge Kibalama, William Mwesige, Joseph Mabirizi and Wilfred Nuwagaba.

The deputy EC chairperson Joseph Biribona told New Vision that the commission was eagerly waiting for presidential aspirants from the dominant political parties.

These are NRM FDC, DP, UPC, CP and JEEMA.

"We are waiting for aspirants from bigger political parties," he said.

The EC has registered 29 political parties since multiparty dispensation begun in 2005.

Biribona also expressed concern that some presidential aspirants who picked forms may not be able to pay the required sh8m and gather signatures from 75 districts.

"It's going to be a tough job for them (presidential aspirants) especially collecting signatures from three quarters of total districts in the country and some may not raise the money," Biribona told New Vision.

The Presidential Election Act requires each candidate to pay sh8m to the coffers of EC and collect 1200 signatures from each of the 75 districts to support their candidature.

According to Biribona 58 presidential aspirants picked forms in 2011 presidential elections but only eight ended up on the ballot paper.

These were President Yoweri Museveni of NRM who won the elections, Kiiza Besigye of FDC, Olara Otunnu of UPC, Betty Kamya of UFA, Nobert Mao of DP, Abed Bwanika of PDP and Bidandi Ssali of PPP.

Besigye the former FDC president who has contested thrice and lost is busy traversing the country for votes to be elected as a flag bearer for FDC party against its president Maj. Gen Mugisha Muntu.

The opposition through the umbrella The Democratic Alliance (TDA) plans to front a joint presidential candidate to wrestle power from President Museveni in 2016.

According to the EC roadmap, the nominations for presidential candidates is scheduled for October 5-6, and elections will be held in February 2016.