Govt unveils plan for elections in new districts

Government has unveiled a plan to hold elections in newly-created districts across the country.

The plan says where a new district or constituency is created after the general elections, the elections there shall not be held until the next general elections to fill the vacant elective positions.

Currently, the Electoral Commission (EC) is mandated to hold elections for several offices including district chairperson, councillors and woman MP within 60 days after the creation of the new district.

This is contained in one of the Bills that were tabled in Parliament last week by Attorney General William Byaruhanga on behalf of the minister of justice and constitutional affairs Maj. Gen. (rtd) Kahinda Otafiire.

The Bill is entitled "The Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2019" and its purpose to amend the Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005 to provide for the participation of independent candidates in elections and to provide for restrictions on candidates' sources of funding to finance elections.

It also requires EC to designate restricted areas and to provide for a special procedure for voting in restricted areas.

The creation of new districts has drastically increased from 33 by the time the National Resistance Movement captured power to now 135.

Article 179 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to alter boundaries of districts and the creation of more districts.

The Constitution says any measure for the alteration of or the creation of districts shall be based on the necessity for effective administration and need to bring services closer to the people.