EC hires media firm to produce presidential nomination event

ELECTION WATCH | EC 

The Electoral Commission (EC) has hired the services of a media firm to produce and broadcast the nomination event of the 2021 presidential candidates at Kyambogo University early next week.

Justice Simon Byabakama, the EC chairperson, said this on Thursday at EC headquarters shortly after meeting the 10 cleared aspirants and/or their agents on the final preparations for nomination of presidential aspirants and other issues under the roadmap for 2020/2021 general elections.

Without revealing the name, Byabakama said the firm will produce and broadcast the event live to national and international audiences via various platforms, including television and radio broadcasts as well as social media streaming, posts and updates.

"All national and international television and radio broadcasters who are interested in broadcasting live the nomination exercise are advised to handover their live broadcasting units to our office of public relations officer not later than October 30 for further delivery to the nomination venue where they will be connected with a live clean feed," he said.

He also said broadcasters that are interested in short videos and pictures of the nomination exercise are advised to provide their email addresses to their public relations office: pressaccrediation@ec.or.ug where content will be shared in real time.

"The commission has made provision for limited access by the media and the list of identified media national and international media personnel has been forwarded to the accreditation office for necessary clearance," he said.

Byabakama added: "All media persons who have been cleared to physically attend and cover the nomination exercise will be required to present a 72-hpour PCR negative test for COVID-19, which will be taken at their own costs."

Twenty-two aspirants have so far returned nomination forms and supporter forms to the EC and 10 had been cleared for nominations by press time.

The 10 include incumbent President Yoweri Museveni of National Resistance Movement (NRM), Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of National Unity Platform (NUP), Eng. Patrick Amuriat of Forum for Democratic Change, Maj Gen (rdt) Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation and former security minister Lt Gen (rtd) Henry Tumukunde (independent).

Others are independents Pastor Fred Mwesigye, Nancy Linda Kalembe, Joseph Kabuleta, John Katumba and Willy Mayambala.

The nominations are scheduled for November 2 and 3, starting at 9am and ending at 5pm.