E.C Calls Off L.C Elections, Says Court Process Will Decide

The Electoral Commission (E.C) has complied with the orders issued by the High court, blocking the conducting of elections of Local Council One (L.C) as well as those of Women councils.

Women councils and committees elections were slated for today [Tuesday] while those for L.C 1 and L.C II were scheduled to take place next week on November 21.

The decision announced by the Electoral Commission Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama on Monday follows two separate High Court injunctions issued on the same day halting the election exercise.

The Jinja High Court order by Justice Jesse Byaruhanga Rugyema was informed by an application filed by Allan Alibwani, a Ugandan citizen agaist the E.C as the respondent.

“An interim order is hereby issued against the respondent [Electoral Commission], his agents and servants restraining them from conducting the elections scheduled for this November until the main application is heard and determined,” the order read.

The injunction restrains the preparation for the said elections for a period of 60 days effective its issuance.

Another court injunction was issued by High Court Registrar, Sarah Langa stopping the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General from organizing and conducting the village council elections.

James Tweheyo, a concerned citizen had filed an application questioning why the elections were schedueld to coincide with the ongoing Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams yet majority of the S.6 students are eligible voters.

This, the applicant argued, would disenfranchise a large portion of Ugandan voters.

The Electoral Commission in a statement issued Monday said the elections would not proceed as scheduled owing to the pronouncements by High Court.

“Any further steps by the Commission on the elections will be determined by the outcome of the court process of which the public will be informed,” the E.C boss, Justice Byabakama said.

He said that the electoral body was committed to observing the law in executing its mandate.

Uganda has not held elections for the L.C 1 Chairpersons, the lowest leadership position of government for the last 16 years.