Kampala — The Electoral Commission has issued a strong reminder to presidential aspirants and other candidates to return their supporter forms and nomination documents on time, warning that delays could jeopardize their participation in the forthcoming elections.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Commission headquarters, the Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, revealed that at least 30 aspirants have so far submitted their supporter forms drawn from the required 80 districts, with each district contributing a minimum of 100 signatures. He noted, however, that the verification process is ongoing and that more submissions are still being received.
“Our work is to verify and cross-check these names and signatures to ensure that the supporters are registered voters in the districts indicated,” Justice Byabakama explained. “Once satisfied, we issue a certificate of compliance which then allows the aspirant to pay nomination fees.”
He stressed the importance of early submission, saying it gives the Commission sufficient time to scrutinize the documents and provide feedback in case gaps are identified. “We appeal to all those aspirants who have not yet returned their supporter forms to do so quickly. The sooner you bring them, the better, because it gives us time to look at your papers and inform you whether you have fulfilled the requirements or not,” he said.
Justice Byabakama criticized delays by some aspirants, emphasizing that gathering 100 signatures per district should not be a difficult task given the ample time provided. “We gave out these forms on 11th August, and today is already mid-September. We think sufficient time has been given. A serious aspirant should not find it difficult to get 100 signatures in each district,” he remarked.
He further disclosed that errors have been detected in some of the forms already submitted, including underage individuals listed as supporters and voters appearing in the wrong districts. He cautioned aspirants to carefully review their forms before submission to avoid disqualification.
“Some people are making mistakes by including 13-year-olds and 16-year-olds as supporters. Yet the law is very clear: a supporter must be a registered voter, meaning 18 years and above. Others have mixed up names, like voters from Mpigi appearing under Mukono. We urge aspirants to ensure accuracy and submit their forms early so that we have time to verify,” he said.
On the issue of petitions from local government nominations, Justice Byabakama said the Commission had received close to 100 petitions, with over 30 already heard. He assured the public that the Commission is committed to transparency and fairness, noting that decisions are communicated promptly to the parties involved.
The Chairperson also addressed ongoing disputes within some political parties, including DP, UPC, and NRM splinter groups, saying the Commission is engaging rival factions to determine legitimate leadership ahead of presidential nominations.
Justice Byabakama concluded by reiterating the Commission’s impartiality and commitment to justice, while reminding aspirants that late submission of supporter forms will not be entertained. “We do not want to be rushed, and we will not accept last-minute submissions that compromise the verification process. Please submit early to give us time to serve you better,” he emphasized.
