Controversy over how LC elections are to be conducted

Prior to the end of last year’s festivities, the Minister for Constitutional Affairs Kahinda Otafiire (Pictured) told parliament of the government’s plan to conduct Local Council elections mid this month.

He revealed that the government has proposed voting to be by standing behind one’s favorite candidate citing financial constraints. The government expected to spend about Shs10billion on the exercise.

However, these proposals have caused controversy. The Electoral Commission claim the money is too little for an exercise that will be conducted in 57,800 villages while the Ministry of Finance says that’s all they can provide.

Giving her views on the Local Government Amendment Bill 2016 at parliament on Dec 30, Mukono Municipality legislator Betty Nambooze said because local council leaders act as adjudicators, they should be elected based on merit and not political parties they belong to.

Earlier different sections of the people had disagreed with the proposal of lining up behind a candidate saying it will cause conflicts.

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editor@independent.co.ug