By Andrew Irumba
The Electoral Commission has been dragged to court by Ugandans who feel disgruntled by the new electoral roadmap that was announced by the Commission on Tuesday.
In their Revised 2020/2021 General Elections Roadmap, the country will hold ‘Scientific’ Elections for the first time in history due to Coronavirus (CODIV-19) pandemic.
Led by social activist Joseph Kabuleta, the disgruntled Ugandans contend that the E.C’s announcement that the country will hold Scientific Elections and that candidates will only be allowed to campaign through the media is in total disregard of Uganda’s Constitution and all the electoral laws.
Through his lawyers of Walyemera & Co. Advocates, Kabuleta has since written to the E. C Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, demanding that before the Commission goes ahead to roll out its Revised 2020/2021 General Elections Roadmap, they should hold a stakeholder’s meeting as soon as possible, such that all concerned parties can exchange ideas on how to implement the electoral process without leaving any party or individual disgruntled.
Kabuleta’s letter to the E.C Chairperson Justice Byabakama reads in part thus; RE: DEMAND NOTICE/NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SUE VIDE REVISED ROADMAP FOR ELECTORAL ACTIVITIES FOR ‘THE 2020/202 GENERAL ELECTIONS
The above matter refers wherein we act for our public-spirited client, JOSEPH KABULETA, a citizen of Uganda, on whose instructions we humbly address you as hereunder: –
Our client has informed us that you, in a letter dated 16 June, 2020 and referenced Adm72/01, released a revised roadmap for electoral activities for 2020/2021 general elections to the general public.
The said revised roadmap, in the guise of observing COVID-19 public health guidelines, not only threatens but violates the citizens’ fundamental constitutional rights to vote, to elect their leaders and also to participate in public affairs.
This revised roadmap also alludes to “scientific” elections campaigns that will only be conducted through media, which is a blatant violation of electoral laws.
As an electoral management body that is interested in holding free and fair general elections, you ought to have sufficient consultation with all key stakeholders, before you roll out this “scientific” revised roadmap.
We therefore demand that you schedule a meeting, where all key stakeholders are consulted on the most appropriate way forward on how to transparently carry out electoral activities in this period within (2) two days from the date of receipt of this letter. Otherwise, our client will be left with no option but to sue you, to protect his and other citizens’ fundamental constitutional rights.
