The Electoral Commission has Friday suspended the program for Women Councils and Committee elections, 2022.
This, according to Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the Chairperson Electoral Commission is due to unavailability of funds required for conducting the subsequent activities under the electoral Roadmap.
On 18th February 2022, the Electoral Commission issued a Roadmap detailing the various activities to be conducted under the programme for elections of Women Councils and Committees from the Village to the National Level.
To-date the Electoral Commission has finalised the compilation of the Village Women Residents’ Register and is currently conducting the Display of the said Registers at each Village/Cell across the country in preparation for subsequent activities, namely, nomination of candidates and polling at the Village level.
Justice Byabakama says the Ministry of Finance has however informed them that the funds required for conducting the subsequent activities under the electoral Roadmap are not yet available.
“Accordingly, the Commission informs the general public, Political Party leaders and women in particular, that the remaining programme for the elections of Village Women Councils and Committees, shall not be implemented as earlier scheduled.” Said Byabakama in a statement issued on Friday Morning
He added, Consequently, all the remaining activities under the approved programme for conduct of the Women Councils and Committees Elections, starting with the nominations of candidates, which were earlier scheduled for Monday 27th June – 1st July 2022, have been suspended.
The EC boss says the amount required for conduct of the elections is Shs. 35.6b and at the moment, only Shs. 15.6bn has been provided, which leaves a funding gap of Shs. 20bn.
He notes that the Commission is engaging the relevant agencies of government to address the matter of additional funding and will issue a new programme for the above electoral activities when the required additional funds are availed.
He appeals to Political Parties and Organisations, aspiring candidates and their supporters, and all other stakeholders in these elections, to remain calm as the matter of the additional funding requirements is being handled by the relevant organs of Government.
