The Electoral Commission has been dragged to court for banning open-air campaigns, in the run-up to the 2021 General elections.
Ugandans will go to the polls between January and February 2021, to elect a President, Members of Parliament and Local council leaders.
But instead of the usual open air campaigns, the commission suggested that contenders for the various political offices will use different media platforms as the main avenue through which they can reach the electorate.
This is in line with the Ministry of Health guidelines that prohibit mass gatherings in the wake of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
A day after the roadmap was unveiled, Ugandan journalist pastor Joseph Kabuleta wrote to the Electoral Commission demanding a meeting with key stakeholders like the political parties, regarding the most appropriate ways of conducting elections during the COVID -19 pandemic.
He demanded that the meeting be held in two days, to avoid a court battle.
Today, Kabuleta filed a petition before the Civil Division of High Court challenging the manner under which the campaigns are to be conducted.
In his application, Kabuleta, through his lawyers led by Daniel Walyemera, asked the court to quash the said revised roadmap on grounds that it is not fair in a free and democratic society like Uganda.
Pastor Kabuleta on Elections Speaking;….
Kabuleta becomes the second person after Dr. Emmanuel Diini Kisembo to challenge the roadmap and the ban on open-air-campaigns.
ENDS .