MPs ask EC to set election date

2021 ELECTIONS   POLITICS

KAMPALA - Parliament has asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to set an election date on which the country will go to polls to vote for their leaders, during next years' general elections.

According to the MPs, before the nominations of both local and Parliamentary candidates, the electoral body and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs assured the House that the commission would announce the election date immediately after nominations, but this has not been the case.

"I want to complain on behalf of the citizens about the lack of clarity on this issue, candidates have been required to prepare programs, but there is no start and finishing date for campaigns. So, it is difficult for members to submit programs," Rebecca Kadaga, the speaker of Parliament said.

In her communication to the House on Tuesday, Kadaga said the continued lack of clarity on the election dates, not only affects the candidates but also planning by the judiciary.

She said; "The absence of clarity on this issue, affects the judiciary, as you known election petitions take priority. The judiciary needs to take this into account in writing their programs and setting dates for their other work".

According to Kadaga, failure by the government to inform the country about the election dates means the judiciary will be obliged to fix dates for hearing of other matters, which she said will cause frustration among the litigants.

"Because their hearing dates will be overtaken by electoral petitions. This is a barrier to access to justice. We urge the electoral commission to live up to the expectations and inform us about the dates set so that the candidates can know," she said.