By our reporter
On Monday, the Electoral Commission suspended the program for the LCI and II administrative units and the women councils and committee elections which were scheduled to take place this week and next week.
According to press release, signed by the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Mugyenyi Byabakama, the commission’s decision to suspend the elections was in compliance with two court orders, issued by the High court in Kampala on Sunday, which were deemed binding on the electoral commission.
Jinja High Court deputy registrar, Jesse Byaruhanga on Monday issued an interim order restraining the EC from conducting the Local Council elections for the next 60 days until an earlier application regarding the elections is determined. The Monday court order followed an application by concerned citizen, Mr Alibwani Allan challenging the elections.
Another order from the High Court in Kampala was issued over the same following an application by Mr James Tweheyo challenging the elections in the absence of Advanced Secondary School students who are currently sitting their examinations until December 8.
The Applicant argued that senior six candidates have a constitutional right to participate in the process, which only will happen when their national examinations have ended.
However, according to Nicholas Sengoba a political commentator, stopping the LC1 elections following NRM’s Tweheyo is a winner for the incumbent party since the opposition was going to use the current political situation of ‘Togikwatako’ wave to get many of their own elected.
I t should be noted that majority Ugandans are against NRM’s age limit bill so the party has been in total fear of losing out on many Local council slots due to the controversial bill.
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