2021 Uganda elections will not have rallies due to pandemic

– Nomination forms will be available online and candidates have been urged to only present two people; a nominator and seconder

– The General Election is set to be convened in January 2021 and President Yoweri Museveni will be seeking to retain his seat

– As of Thursday, June 18, Uganda had 741 cases of COVID-19 which included 442 recoveries with no deaths

Citizens of Uganda will for the first time head for their General Election without the traditional heated nationwide campaigns that usually punctuate the poll.

Electoral Commission of Uganda announced that all candidates wishing to vie for any elective position will have to sell their manifesto through media.

The poll agency said the approach will help reduce person to person contact and as such reduce the risk of spread of the deadly virus.

“The commission recognises the constitutional right of every citizen to vote and choose their leaders as well as our duty to facilitate the exercise of those rights. The commission is further mindful of the need to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all stakeholders during the electoral process.

Mass rallies will not be allowed but campaigns will be conducted mainly through media. The commission will issue specific guidelines for each election activity under this revised roadmap in due course and will engage with various stakeholders on the same,” the commission said in a statement.

According to ECU, hopefuls are set to campaign from September 28 to January 8, 2021, before the General Election day which is expected to be between January 8 and February 2021.

Nomination papers will be availed online while hard copies will be delivered to areas with no internet access.

“The commission will avail nomination forms on its website that can be printed by those with access to the internet. However, for those with no access to the internet, hard copies will be availed.

It is important to note is that we will only allow an aspiring candidate with only two people; the nominator and a seconder,” the commission read.

During the exercise, citizens will hire leaders at the local government level, parliamentary level and the head of state.

Among those who have expressed interest for the presidency is Kydonda East MP Robert Kyagulani alias Bobi Wine. He seeks to succeed President Yoweri Museveni who has been at the helm of the country since January 1986.

In East Africa, Burundi was the latest country to hold a General-Election amid coronavirus pandemic.

The country, however, allowed campaigns and rallies to be held despite the pandemic. Evariste Ndayishimiye trounced the May 20 poll and he was sworn in on Thursday, June 18.

Ndayishimiye succeeded Pierre Nkurunziza who died on Monday, June 8.

Tanzania is also expected to head for a General Election after President John Pombe Magufuli dissolved parliament on Tuesday, June 16.