By BM
The Electoral Commission (EC) has confirmed that 30 presidential aspirants have submitted their supporter forms ahead of the nomination exercise scheduled for later this month, but warns that the clock is rapidly running out for others yet to meet the deadline.
Justice Simon Byabakama, Chairperson of the EC, emphasized the urgent need for all candidates to act swiftly to avoid disqualification.
“A serious aspirant should not struggle to get 100 signatures per district,” he said, highlighting the stringent requirements and limited time remaining for compliance.
Each aspirant is mandated by law to present signatures from at least 100 registered voters in a minimum of 98 districts across the country.
The Commission is rigorously verifying the authenticity of these signatures to ensure only eligible candidates proceeds.
Any errors or irregularities uncovered during this process could lead to immediate disqualification.
So far, the EC has detected several alarming irregularities, including underage supporters as young as 13 and 16 years old, as well as voters listed in districts where they are not registered.
“Such mistakes can easily disqualify a candidate,” Justice Byabakama warned, urging aspirants to meticulously review their supporter forms before submission.
Candidates must also book a slot for their nomination on either September 23rd or 24th to avoid congestion at the Commission offices.
Justice Byabakama stressed that the deadline to submit supporter forms and book nomination slots is final, with no extensions planned.
Beyond the presidential race, the EC is actively managing nearly 100 petitions from recent local government elections, with approximately 30 already heard.
The Commission is committed to giving all parties a fair hearing and will rectify any wrongful denials of nomination as permitted by law.
Political party disputes remain another challenge ahead of the 2025 elections.
The EC is currently mediating leadership and flag bearer disputes within major parties, including the Democratic Party (DP), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), and National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED), to determine rightful presidential candidates.
Justice Byabakama concluded by reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to transparency and fairness in overseeing the electoral process, reminding all aspirants that time is of the essence. “Act now or risk being left out of the 2025 race,” he warned.
