No money for LC I, II polls - EC

PIC: Sam Rwakoojo, the EC secretary. Photo/Nicholas Oneal

The Electoral Commission (EC) has said it will not hold elections for village and parish councils until adequate funding for the exercise is availed.  

According to EC, of the sh37b is required to conduct LC1 and LC2 polls but government provided only sh7b in the current financial year's budget creating a deficit of sh30b.

Addressing a news conference in Kampala on Thursday, Sam Rwakoojo, the EC secretary said the earmarked funds are insufficient for the polls.

"It cannot to pay workers and procure other requirements for village and parish polls country wide," Rwakoojo explained.

He added that elections will be held when EC is adequately funded by the ministry of finance.

"Our job is to conduct elections and we can do this with funds from the government. Upon receiving the required funds we will hold the elections," Rwakoojo added.

 
Early this year, the election body had promised to hold LC1 and LC2 elections in the current financial year upon receiving funding from government.

This follows a New Vision report last week where Rafael Magyezi chairman local government committee at parliament demanded for answers from EC why polls for LC1 and LC2 were not conducted.

While addressing the annual Uganda local Government Association (ULGA) conference last week, Magyezi proposed that the EC would appear before his committee to answer queries about the election of local council positions.

The constitution of Uganda according to Article 61, sub section 2, states that the Electoral Commission should hold presidential, general, parliamentary and local government within 30 days of the last 90 days before President's term of office expires which expired in March following President Museveni's swearing in May.

The Local Governments (Amendment) Bill 2014 that was tabled by Adolf Mwesige former Minister for local Government proposed that elections at these local levels should be conducted by lining up behind candidates, their representatives, their portraits or symbols.