The Electoral Commission of Uganda has cleared controversial political pundit Charles Rwomushana to conduct countrywide scientific consultations as presidential aspirant.
In a letter which the Parrotsug seen signed by the Electoral Commission Chairman Justice Byabakama Mugyenyi Simon, Rwomushana was asked to prior notify and seek for permission from the area Local Council authorities and police about of his consultations as required in section 3 of the president elections Act,2005.
Section 3 of the presidential elections Act,2005, requires individual aspirant for the position of president to introduce him/herself to the Commission to notify the LC and the police of the area where S/he intends to go for consultations.
The EC also cautioned Rwomushana not to take an advantage of the consultations to hold electoral campaigns, rallies which contravene the objectives of his consultations.
“Desist from holding rallies, campaigns and carrying out processions on public roads, under the guise of conducting consultative meetings as this would totally be at variance with the objective of consultation envisaged under section 3 Presidential Elections Act,2005,” EC cautions.
On June22,2020 Rwomushana through his lawyers Mujurizi, Alinaitwe and Byamukama Company advocates in Kampala announced his presidential bid for the forthcoming 2020/21 presidential elections.
These wrote a letter to the EC seeking to be allowed to carry out consultations.
“We act for and on behalf of our client, Charles Rwomushana, a presidential aspirant in the forthcoming presidential elections schedule for 2021. He intends to carry out nationwide consultations, prepare his manifesto and other campaign materials, raise funds for his campaigns through lawful means and convene meetings of national delegates,” the lawyers say in the letter to the EC chairperson.
In an acceptance letter by the EC, Rwomushana was further urged to observe the set guidelines on covid-19 to ensure the health and safety of the people in his consultations.
“You are required to take into account and strictly observe the social distance, wearing of face masks and hand washing facilities should be available at the consultation venues during consultations,” read excerpts of the EC letter to Rwomushana’s lawyers.
Rwomushana joins a list of other Ugandans such as the Kyadondo East legislator Hon Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, Former Security Minister Henry Tumukunde, Gen Mugisha Gregory Muntu, Moses Arinaitwe among others who have publicly declared to break their political virginity for the presidential seat in 2020/21 elections.
About Rwomushana.
Rwomushana served in the Constituent Assembly (CA) as the representative for Rujumbura County in Rukungiri District and participated in the drafting of the 1995 constitution.
He is the former Guild President of Makerere University who also served as Resident District Commissioner for Pader district and Head of Economics and Research at Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and it is because of his remarks for and against the current government that many have christened him as being controversial.
Apparently, he has been known for his controversies analyses on current political and economic affairs in the country.