Kampala, Uganda: The Electoral Commission (EC) of Uganda has confirmed that President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairman, and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Nathan Nandala Mafabi are the only two aspirants who have so far met the legal requirements, just two days to the kickoff of the two-day presidential nominations exercise.
Mr Julius Mucunguzi, the EC spokesperson, said on Friday, September 19, that out of 27 aspirants checked so far, only Mr Museveni and Mr Nandala submitted the minimum signatures required to be nominated. The other 25 aspirants are still facing compliance challenges.
“By Friday, EC had notified 27 out of the 38 aspirants who have submitted lists to the Commission. Out of the 27, two aspirants had met the required supporter numbers, while the others were at various levels of compliance,” Mucunguzi told DailyExpress.
He explained that the verification is “an elaborate exercise meant to fulfil the dictates of the law” and warned aspirants against forgery, citing Section 10(5) of the Presidential Elections Act, 2005, which prescribes up to one year in prison, a fine of Shs480,000, or both.
The Commission’s declaration, however, drew sharp reactions from several opposition camps. National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), and Ecological Party’s Muhammad Nsereko accused the Commission of late communication and unfairly disqualifying signatures.
According to EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama’s letter to Mr Kyagulanyi, out of 13,000 signatures submitted from 130 districts, only 80 districts were verified, leaving 18 districts, around 1,800 signatures, pending. Mr Kyagulanyi disputed the findings and mobilized supporters to recollect signatures.
But the NUP reacted swiftly on Saturday, with hundreds of supporters turning up at Makerere-Kavule to sign in support of their candidate.
Later on Saturday afternoon, NUP Secretary General Lewis Rubongoya confirmed the party had already surpassed the required numbers and would submit fresh signatures before the September 22 deadline.
“We are submitting signatures on Sunday and Monday. We have more than enough. We were shocked to see EC claiming we lacked signatures,” Rubongoya said.
Similarly, Gen Muntu’s ANT submitted 9,800 signatures from 98 districts, but EC verified only 4,800 from 48 districts. ANT’s national coordinator, Ms Alice Alaso, said the party had launched a fresh collection drive to cover the shortfall.
“We condemn EC for informing us only two days to the nominations. We are working day and night to cover the missing districts,” Ms Alaso noted.
What is the legal requirement for signatures?
The Presidential Elections Act requires aspirants to be endorsed by at least 100 registered voters from no fewer than two-thirds of Uganda’s 146 districts. This translates to a threshold of at least 9,800 signatures across 98 districts.
The EC will conduct presidential nominations on September 23 and 24 at its new headquarters in Lweza-Lubowa, Entebbe. Successful candidates will launch their campaigns starting September 29.
President Museveni and Mr Kyagulanyi are scheduled for nomination on Tuesday, September 23. Museveni will later address supporters at Kololo ceremonial grounds, while Kyagulanyi is expected to hold rallies in Katwe and Natete.
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