The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has applauded the Electoral Commission (EC) for releasing the roadmap to the 2021 general elections in time.
EC launched the Strategic Plan and roadmap for the 2021 general elections on Tuesday December 11, at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
The unveiled roadmap indicates that the polls for President, Parliament as well as Local Governments will be conducted between January 11 and February 9, 2021 and that a sum of Shs 868.14 billion is required to facilitate the process.
While addressing reporters on Tuesday, the Chairman of the NRM Electoral Commission, Dr Tanga Odoi reiterated that his party has been eargely waiting for the release of the roadmap, in order to commence with preparations for the 2021 general elections.
“I want to thank the Electoral Commission and the press for highlighting the need for parties not to complain without organizing their own houses. As NRM, we were simply waiting for this roadmap and now that it is out, we are going to hold a press conference and unveil our own next course of action,” Odoi said.
He noted that when elections are hurriedly done in a short period of time, it brings problems within political parties and gives room to people to contest as Independent candidates.
He noted that earlier adoption of the released Strategic Plan and roadmap will enable the NRM to conduct their Primaries with ease as well as reduce complaints from candidates over limited time in which the exercise is conducted.
“Once NRM EC abides and moves steadfastly along this roadmap, which we shall do, we shall then limit room for people within NRM who will enter the race simply to seek press and public sympathy. We shall actually start this exercise early and we are going to meet stakeholders in different regions,” Odoi said.
He further revealed that if the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) endorses, the Commission will demarcate the country into six or eight regions and have primaries simultaneously held in each region.
He explained that the move will help them to have elections in each region and address all complaints before crossing to other regions, thus limiting excuses of Primaries being conducted hurriedly.