Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has called upon the government to allocate additional funds to the Electoral Commission for the purpose of conducting civic education in preparation for the 2026 elections.
Addressing the issue during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed leaders of the Electoral Commission, Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo emphasized the importance of civic education in ensuring transparent and fair electoral processes.
He referred to observations made by local election observers during the 2021 general election, which highlighted the lack of civic education as a contributing factor to the monetization of elections and voter bribery.
He recommended increased government funding for the Electoral Commission to educate voters about their rights and responsibilities.
In addition to advocating for enhanced civic education efforts, Owiny-Dollo urged the Electoral Commission to review the numerous election petitions received after the 2021 elections.
With 160 petitions registered at the parliamentary and local council levels, concerns were raised regarding various electoral irregularities such as bribery, election violence, multiple voting, and inaccurate tallying of results.
The Chief Justice emphasized the importance of addressing these issues promptly to prevent their recurrence in future elections.
Among those sworn in during the ceremony were Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, who took oath for a second term as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, along with other Commissioners and members.
Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao encouraged the Electoral Commission members to execute their duties fairly with utmost independence, professionalism, and competence.
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