2021 Elections: 36 vie for Museveni's job

POLITICS   ELECTION

KAMPALA - The number of aspiring presidential candidates in the forthcoming general elections has reached 36, the Electoral Commission (EC) deputy spokesperson, Paul Bukenya, has told New Vision.

Many of those who have rushed to notify EC of their intentions to carry out countrywide consultations ahead of the polls are little-known. Political observers say they want to use this chance to gain popularity or lobby for funds from sponsors for private businesses., 

Observers argue that while it is a constitutional right for all qualified Ugandans to vie for any position in the country, strict standards must be set for presidential aspirants.

"The period of elections has become an avenue for making money. EC must thoroughly vet these aspirants to kick out the unserious ones.  This is because in the past, we have had presidential aspirants notify EC or pick nomination forms only to withdraw before or after campaigns have started," one observer said on condition of anonymity.

Parliament in October 2015 enacted the Presidential Elections Act, 2015, which increased nomination fees for presidential aspirants from sh8m to sh20m and scrapped the sh20m state facilitation.

According to EC, the next presidential and parliamentary elections will be held anywhere between January 11 and February 9, 2021.

Parliamentary contenders will be nominated on August 12, 2020, a week before presidential candidates are chosen on August 20.