Elections of Interim District Chairpersons in Newly Created Districts

The Electoral Commission has appointed Monday 3rd July 2017, as the date for election of Interim District Chairperson in each of the newly created districts of Bunyangabu, Butebo, Kyotera, Namisindwa, Pakwach and Rukiga.

The elections shall be held at the respective headquarters of the newly created districts between 9:00am and 4:00pm.

The following guidelines shall apply to the election of the Interim District Chairperson:

1. Composition of the Interim Councils in Newly Created District

The composition of a Council of a newly created District shall be all members of the original District Council representing the sub counties and other electoral areas within the new district.

Councillors representing Special Interest Groups (SIGs) shall not be members of the Interim District Council, but shall remain part of the original (mother) District Council, irrespective of their residence.

2. Election of Interim Chairperson

The Interim Local Government Council (above) shall elect an Interim Chairperson from among the members of the Council by secret ballot.

No person shall be declared elected Interim Chairperson, unless that person gets over 50 percent of the votes of all the members of the Council cast in his or her favour.

The quorum at a meeting for election of an interim Chairperson shall be two thirds of all the members of the Interim Council.

3. Procedure of Electing the Interim District Chairperson

The presiding Officer (Returning Officer) shall invite nominations for the Interim Chairperson from the members of the Interim Council. The nomination of candidates shall be made orally by members of the Interim Council, and each name presented shall have at least one seconder.

At the close of nominations the presiding officer shall read out the names of nominated candidates. If, during the election of an Interim Chairperson, only one person is nominated, that person shall be declared elected unopposed.

The voters (Interim Councillors) shall tick or thumb print against the name of only one candidate on the ballot paper.

The candidate with more that 50 percent of the votes shall be declared the Interim District Chairperson.

Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon

Chairperson, Electoral Commission

 

Wednesday, June 28, 2017