By Our Reporter,
NATIONAL
Electoral commission earmarks 35 Billion Shs in preparation of Women Councils and Committees Elections and Other Electoral-related Activities.
This was disclosed by Justice Simon Mugyenyi Byabakama Chairman of the Electoral Commission while addressing journalists on women council elections matters on Wednesday.
. He revealed the highlights of the following key activities that will be undertaken at the Village level, which forms the basis for the conduct of the elections in a progressive manner up to the national level.
Compilation of Register for Election of Village Women Executive Committees 10th-13th June 2022.
“In preparation for the Women Councils and Committees Elections, the Electoral Commission will compile a register of willing female residents in each village throughout Uganda from Friday 10th June to Monday 13th June 2022.” Byabakama said.
The purpose of this registration exercise is to enable all willing female residents aged 18 years and above, to register in order to participate in the above elections within their villages.
According to EC, registration will be conducted from 7.00am until 6.00pm on each of the appointed dates, including weekends and shall be free of charge.
The display of the Register will be from 23rd-24th June 2022 in all villages across the country.
The election body has further explained the composition of women committees at the villqge level.
Accordingly, the Village Womens Committee shall consist of the following five positions, Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Publicity Secretary, and Secretary for Finance.
While the nomination of candidates for Village Women Executive Committees will be conducted from 27th June-1st July 2022 for respective Sub County/ City Division Headquarters.
Byabakama has also noted that no one can join the subsequent electoral processes if she did not participate at Village level.
Also, all public officers who wish to participate in Women Councils and Committees Elections shall be expected to resign before seeking nomination as candidates.
The EC has also set 4th -6th July 2022, as dates for the campaigning of candidates for election of Village Women Committee.
Thereafter, the polling day for election of the 5 members of Village Women Committee will be on Thursday 7th July 2022, and voting will be by the electorate lining up behind the nominated candidates, their representatives, portraits or symbols.
The EC has said that voting shall take place in a public/open place within the village, starting at 9.00am.
“All persons participating in the elections shall be required to comply with the guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission in accordance with the Government of Uganda and Ministry of Health measures against the spread of COVID-19”, they added
The EC has assured Ugandans that they conducted a countrywide exercise to harmonize and confirm all administrative units in the country.
“In preparation for the conduct of Women Councils and Committees Elections 2022 and Administrative Units/LC 1 and LC 2 Elections 2023, the Electoral Commission conducted a countrywide exercise to compare, verify, harmonise and confirm all administrative units/ villages/cells, parishes/wards and sub-counties.” EC stated
They added, “the exercise was conducted from 16th March -27th March 2022, and the Electoral Commission, in conjunction with the Ministry of Local Government, has finalized the processing of returns.
The purpose of the exercise was to update the list of Villages, Parishes, and Sub-counties in the country upon which the Women Councils and Committees Elections of 2022 and the Administrative Units /LC 1 and LC 2 Elections of 2023, will be based, in accordance with Sections 7 and 25 of the Local Government Act, Cap 243.”
Accordingly, the number of Administrative Units in Uganda for the Women Councils and Comities Elections, 2022 comprise of 146 Districts/Cities, 2,191 Sub-counties/Town Councils/ Municipal Divisions, 10,692 Parishes/Wards and 71,255 Village/Cells.
Justice Byabakama has said that the Commission will issue the list to political parties and organizations to enable them prepare for presenting of candidates during the conduct of Women Councils and Committees Elections to be held this year 2022 and Administrative Units/LC 1 and LC 2 Elections which will be held in 2023.
The Commission will also publish the harmonised and updated list of Administrative Units onto the website for public access.
The current Women Councils and Committees were elected during the period June-August 2018, and the Executive C committee of the National Womens Council was constituted on 23rd-24 August 2018.
According to the National Womens Council Act, the terms of office of the said Councils and Committees is four years, implying their term will elapse in August 2022.
Accordingly, the Electoral Commission did earlier issue the programme for the elections of Women Councils and Committee Elections from Village to National level as follows:
Village/Cell Level
1. Compilation of Village Womens Register 10th 13th June 2022
2. Display of the Womens Register at the Village level 23rd – 24th June 2022
3. Nomination of candidates at the Sub County Headquarters 27th June-1 st July 2022
4. Candidates Campaigns for election of the Village Women Committee 4 th – 6 th July 2022
5. Polling Day for election of five (5) members of Village Women Committee (lining, counting, filling forms and declaration) 7th July 2022
Parish/Ward Level
1. Compilation of the Parish/Ward Women Council Registers 8 th – 9 th July 2022
2. Display of Parish/Ward Women Council Registers 11th – 12th July 2022
3. Nomination of Candidates for Parish/Ward Women Committees 13th – 14th July 2022
4. Candidates Campaigns for Parish/Ward Women Committees 18th – 20th July 2022
5. Polling Day for election of Parish/Ward Women Committees 22nd July 2022
City Division/Sub-County/Town Council/Municipal Division Level
1. Compilation of City/Sub-County/Town/Municipal Div. Womens Registers 23rd July 2022
2. Display of City Div./Sub County/Town/Municipal Div. Womens Registers 25th – 26th July 2022
3. Nomination of candidates (City Division/Sub-County/Town /Municipal Div. Committee) 27th – 28th July 2022
4. Candidates campaigns (City Division/Sub-County/Town /Municipal Div. Committee) 29th July-1 st Aug 2022
5. Polling Day: election of City Div./Sub-County/Town/Municipal Div. Women Committee 2 nd August 2022
District/City Level
1. Compilation of District/City Women Registers 3 rd August 2022
2. Display of District/City Women Registers 4 th-5 th August 2022
3. Nomination of Candidates for District/City Women Committees 5 th August 2022
4. Candidates Campaigns for District/City Women Committees 8 th-11th August 2022
5. Polling Day for Election of District/City Women Committees 12th August 2022
National Conference for Election of the
National Women Committee
1. National Conference for National Women Committee Elections (Display of register, nomination of candidates, campaigns, voting, counting & declaration of results) 22nd-23rd August 2022
The exercise will according to the EC cost at least 35 billion shillings.
