DAY ONE | Nomination of candidates for LC polls

UGANDA DECIDES 2020-21

The Electoral Commission on Monday (September 21) kicked off the nomination of candidates for local government councils elections 2021. The exercise, which will run until October 1, 2020, is taking place at district and county headquarters around the country, during weekdays and starting at 9am and ending at 5pm.

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2:55pm

Several aspirants have showed up at Mbale city hall for the nomination exercise.

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1:58pm

Police have been called to restore order at the Electoral Commission offices at Ntinda following a commotion by political aspirants who had turned up for the nomination exercise, reports New Vision's Jaliat Namuwaya.

The aspirants lost their cool and alleged that the Electoral Commission officers were jumping the queue by nominating aspirants ahead of those who had come earlier.

One aggrieved aspirant is Thomas Kazibwe, who is eyeing the seat of the lord councilor for Kampala Central. He said he had by 7am arrived at the offices but had not been nominated by 11am - yet those who came after him were already nominated.

After a half-hour scuffle, Police managed to restore calm at the offices and the nomination exercise continued smoothly. From then on, it was conducted on a 'first come first serve' basis.

The district registrar for Kampala, Frederick Muwaya, said that they have registered a massive turnout of candidates for nominations on day one - and that they are working to ensure all of them are nominated within the set time.

He said the EC Ntinda office is conducting nominations for Kampala Lord Mayor, KCCA LC5 councilors, division mayors and division councilors.

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1:43pm

The nomination exercise is going on in earnest in Kyotera, where several aspirants have made an appearance to be nominated.

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District/city chairpersons and councillors are being nominated at district headquarters.

Municipality/city division chairpersons and councillors are also being nominated at district headquarters.

The nomination of subcounty/town/municipal division chairpersons and councillors is taking place at county headquarters.

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12:49pm

Standard operating procedures are being observed at the Electoral Commission regional office in Jinja, where nomination of candidates is taking place.

Here, a policeman records candidates upon arrival for their nomination.

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12:17pm

Smooth exercise so far in Mukono . . .

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12:05pm

Robert Kanusu (left), the NRM flagbearer for the Jinja city mayoral race, was seen interacting with councillor Ayub Kezaala (right) who lost in the NRM primaries for Jinja central west ward in south division council upon arrival for their nomination at the Electoral Commission regional offices in Jinja.

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11:46am

There is a sense of urgency as exhibited by one of the aspirants in Ntinda, who like many others, has showed up for the nomination exercise.

All individuals participating in the nomination exercise are required to comply with guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission in accordance with the govenment and health ministry against the spread of the coronavirus, including observing social distancing, handwashing and wearing masks.