The review, according to EC Deputy Chairperson and Commissioner for the Central South Region Hajjat Aisha Lubega, seeks to establish what worked well, what challenges affected the election process, and recommendations for strengthening electoral management.
“We have convened this meeting to listen to stakeholders’ experiences and recommendations. We want to know what went well, what did not, and how we can improve before the next election,” Lubega said during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting in Masaka.
She said one of the major concerns raised during the consultations was inadequate voter education, which she pledged the Commission would address before the next electoral cycle.
“Many stakeholders told us that voter education was not sufficient. We are going to review the operations of our Voter Education Department and identify areas that need improvement so that citizens receive adequate information before future elections,” she said.
Lubega defended the involvement of security agencies during elections, saying their role is to maintain law and order and protect citizens’ rights.
She said the Electoral Commission’s mandate is to organise and conduct elections, while the Uganda Police Force is responsible for maintaining security.
“Whenever the Police require reinforcement from other security agencies, they are empowered to call for that support. Their presence should therefore not be interpreted as interference with the electoral process,” she said.
Responding to criticism that the EC electoral roadmap often compresses activities into a short period, Lubega said the Commission operates within timelines prescribed by law.
“The electoral roadmap is guided by the law. We do not create these timelines on our own. However, we are reviewing concerns raised by stakeholders, including issues surrounding the declaration of results at tally centres, so that any weaknesses can be addressed before the next election,” she said.
She declined to comment in detail on some disputed election outcomes, noting that several matters remain before courts of law.
Lubega dismissed claims that EC commissioners cannot be impartial because they are appointed by the President, saying the appointment process involves parliamentary approval.
“It is incorrect to claim that commissioners are biased simply because the President appoints them. Before anyone assumes office, they are vetted and approved by Parliament, where different political parties are represented,” she said.
She argued that many election challenges are linked to the conduct of candidates rather than failures by the Commission.
“Cases of violence, voter bribery and conflicts among candidates are caused by the contestants themselves, not by the Electoral Commission. Our duty is to organise elections in accordance with the law,” she said.
As Uganda prepares for Local Council I (LC1) elections, Lubega urged candidates and voters to maintain peace, reminding them that village elections involve communities where people continue to live together after polling.
“These are village elections. The people you are competing against are your neighbours, and those voting are the people you live with every day. Elections should not divide communities,” she said.
Lubega revealed that the EC has allocated about Shs53 billion to facilitate election activities and pay personnel involved in conducting LC1 elections in more than 70,000 villages across the country.
She explained that officials receive payments at different stages, including voter register display, updating of registers, nominations and polling day activities.
“We pay officials when they display voters’ registers, when they update the registers, during nominations, and again on polling day. The amount may seem large, but when you consider the number of villages and the many people involved at every stage, it is fully justified,” she said.
The consultations form part of the EC’s broader post-election assessment aimed at improving electoral transparency, strengthening voter education and addressing concerns raised by stakeholders ahead of Uganda’s next electoral cycle.