The Electoral Commission has suspended campaign meetings of all categories of elections for the 2020/2021 General Elections in specified districts/cities. Guided by Section 12 (1)(h) of the Electoral Commission Act; Section 21 (1) and (2) of the Presidential Elections Act, 2005; Section 20(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005; and Section 172 of the Local Governments Act, campaign meetings for all elective offices are suspended with immediate effect, in the Districts/Cities of Jinja (Jinja City inclusive), Kabale, Kalungu, Masaka (Masaka City inclusive), Tororo, Kampala, Luwero, Wakiso, Greater Mukono (Buikwe, Buvuma, Mukono, Kayunga), Mbarara District (Mbarara City inclusive), Kabarole District (Fort Portal City inclusive), Kasese and Kazo, which have been categorized by the Health Experts as high, sustained and diffuse transmission districts/areas. 

According to the said Health Experts, the transmission of the COVID-19 is being exacerbated by mass gatherings. All candidates’ meetings in these areas are hereby suspended until further notice and candidates are advised to restrict themselves to virtual campaigns – radios, televisions, social media, community-based Public Address Systems (kizindaalo) and other online platforms.

The Electoral Commission has appointed Tuesday 22^nd and Wednesday 23^rd December 2020 as the dates for nomination of candidates for election of Member of Parliament representing Workers, Youths, Persons with Disabilities and Older Persons. The nominations shall be conducted at the Electoral Commission Headquarters, Plot 55 Jinja Road, Kampala, beginning at 9:00am and ending at 5:00pm on each of the appointed dates.

The Electoral Commission has taken note of the arrest of Presidential Candidate Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform (NUP) Party, allegedly for violating the Guidelines issued regarding the conduct of Presidential Campaign Meetings.

The Commission has also noted media statements indicating that some Presidential Candidates have suspended their campaign programmes as a result of the above arrest. We wish to advise any such Candidates to officially address the changes in their respective campaign programmes to the Electoral Commission.

The Commission has further noted that some members of the public have reacted to the said arrest by engaging in acts of protests, violence and confrontation with law enforcement and other security agencies which has caused unease and tension among the general public.

The Electoral Commission has taken up the matter of the arrest of Candidate Kyagulanyi with the relevant authorities. Accordingly, we appeal to the public to remain calm and restrain from engaging in acts of lawlessness, that may result in destruction of property and loss of life, as already witnessed.

In the meantime, the Commission wishes to caution and warn all candidates for whichever elective position to desist from holding their campaigns in a manner that violates the Guidelines regarding the conduct of campaign meetings.

We reiterate that it is a violation of the Campaign Guidelines for a candidate and his/her agents to mobilize and/or encourage supporters to gather at campaign venues in large numbers in contravention of The Public Health (Control of COVID-19) (Amendment No.3) Rules, 2020, issued on 9^th November 2020, which provides that gatherings for purposes of political meetings should not exceed two hundred (200) persons.