Electoral commission boss Eng. Dr. Badru Kiggundu says critics of his commission have failed to appreciate the efforts that his commission has undertaken to maintain its integrity and independence.
He says that his commission does not have the power to make its own laws to govern its affairs and therefore has to rely on those that are passed by parliament and the executive arm of government.
Kiggundu further points out the he also submitted his own proposals to the electoral amendments that called for greater autonomy of the commission, but his proposals were never taken into consideration.
He however says that his commission only implements electoral laws that promote fairness and equality for all political aspirants and participants even though these regulations and laws come from parliament.
At a press conference moments after his nomination on Wednesday, FDC presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye was critical of the current EC, calling for an independent national electoral body.
“In 2005, we took the brevity of nominating Dr. Kizza Besigye in absentia because he was in jail,” said Kiggundu.
“But we did it because we knew it was the right thing to do and up to now, no one has ever come out to question our decision. So, how can you say that we are not independent?”
Kiggundu’s team nominated eight presidential hopefuls, including one female, early this week at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
On Friday, he met with the candidates (some were represented), during which a memorandum of understanding was signed by the candidates.
The EC boss also made it clear that the vehicles given to the teams upon nomination are not for carrying candidates, but their guards, during the campaigns which begin on Monday, November 9 and end on February 16.
Two of the candidates – Maureen Kyalya Walube and Joseph Mabirizi – who are both independents, announced Friday that they would hold joint rallies across the country.
The presidential election is set for February 18.
‘I will close all fundraising drives’
Meanwhile, Kiggundu has threatened to ban fundraising activities in elections as part of efforts to promote transparency in the process.
He noted that aspirants take part in various activities to fundraise money for their campaigns but then fail to account for it at the end of the political period.
The Electoral Commission, he said, has also found that some people do not actually use the money that they raise for electoral purposed but instead use it for other things, which are sometimes even illegal.
“I am very soon going to close off fundraisings. All aspirants should get the money out of backdoor activities and utilize it efficiently. Some people want to use this money to build schools instead.”
