THIS WEEK: EC, petitioners asked to settle LC elections case out of court

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Court has cleared the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct Local Council Elections after settling the grievances raised by petitioners amicably.

The electoral commission had scheduled to conduct the elections last year but a number of people petitioned court faulting the manner and circumstances under which the polls were to be conducted.

One petitioner – James Tweheyo said senior six candidates most of whom are eligible voters who were still at school doing final exams would be left out.

Speaking to journalists last week, EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama said the commission will soon set a date for the polls although he noted that they still lacked funds to deploy electoral officials on the ground.

Earlier however, several people had opposed the method of voting by lining up behind the candidate that it would groom conflict within the people. Uganda has not held LC elections for the last 16 years.