Older persons' leaders elected unopposed

Most of the older persons' leaders at parish level were on Friday ( August 28 ) elected unopposed and peacefully, according to the Electoral Commission (EC).

The elections conducted by electoral colleges comprising five executive committee members from each village took place in 10,028 parishes across the country.

"Provisional reports on the elections, indicate that many of the candidates for the five-member parish committees were elected unopposed," Paul Bukenya the commission's spokesperson, said.

The parish older person committee comprises a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, vice-secretary and treasurer. The National Council for Older Persons Act (OPA), 2013 and attendant regulations provide that at least one third (1/3) of the executive committee, which translates to two (2) members, shall be older women.

"The commission is compiling the detailed results of the election in preparation for the next level," Bukenya said. The next level elections for the sub-county, town council, and municipal divisions will be conducted on September 11.

Those elected then, according to Bukenya, will form a college to elect their leaders at the district or city level.

Those elected at the district level will be expected to participate in the regional delegates conferences to elect the four older persons' MPs. "They will again attend a national delegates conference to elect the national female MP between January 10 and February 8, next year," Bukenya disclosed.

However, he said the EC was yet to formulate guidelines for the election of the older persons' MPs. Bukenya said the formulation of the guidelines was being treated with urgency by the commission, which is working together with Parliament and the gender ministry.

Recently, Parliament passed that elderly persons (60 years and above) will have five seats in Parliament after Cabinet endorsed the creation of this special interest group's representation in the Legislature.

The five representatives will be elected by their electoral colleges, with a representative from each of the regions (east, west, north and central) and a national female MP.

Article 78(1) of Uganda's Constitution prescribes the composition of Parliament to include members directly elected to represent constituencies, a woman representative for every district, representatives for the army, youth, workers, persons with disabilities and ministers, who, if not already elected MPs, serve as exofficio members without the right to vote on any issue up for a vote.

Relatedly, the commission is also preparing to conduct elections of persons with disabilities and youth committees at parish level today and on Wednesday, respectively.