List: 19 of 87 presidential aspirants return supporter forms – only Museveni cleared so far

The Electoral Commission (EC) has cleared incumbent President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni for nomination as a candidate for the 2021 election for the country’s top seat.

Weeks ago, Museveni’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party submitted over five million signatures in support of Museveni’s candidature as the 76-year-old seeks to extend his 35-year rule to four decades.

According to Section 10(b) of the Presidential Elections Act, a presidential candidate’s nomination shall be supported by not less than 100 persons who are registered voters from two thirds of all the districts of Uganda.

That means that candidates need to present signatures from valid voters from 98 districts.

Although 87 aspirants had collected forms expressing interest in the presidency, only 19 have returned supporter forms.

The 19 include Patrick Oboi Amuriat, the candidate for main opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Maj Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP), and former security minister Lt Gen (Rtd) Henry Tumukunde.

The EC has only verified Museveni’s supporter forms, and hence cleared him as a candidate.

NOMINATION GUIDELINES

Meanwhile, the EC, which Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi heads, has also issued guidelines for presidential nominations scheduled for November 02 and November 03.

The exercise will happen at Kyambogo University Sports Grounds, starting at 9am and ending at 5pm.

Here are some of the guidelines:

• Aspiring candidates to book time in advance on any of the gazetted dates to ensure a smooth nomination exercise.
• Access to the nomination venue limited, in compliance with Government/Ministry of Health Guidelines and EC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for preventing the spread of Covid19.
• The aspiring candidate, shall be allowed into the nomination venue accompanied by not more than ten (10) persons (including the candidate.
• The particulars of persons accompanying the aspirant shall be submitted to the Commission in advance.
• Aspiring candidates have been advised to use only three (3) vehicles for purposes of his/her nominations; and each vehicle should not carry more than four (4) persons, driver inclusive. Each of the vehicles shall bear a police sticker.
• The incumbent President, who is also a candidate, shall use such facilities as are ordinarily attached to his office in line with Section 27(2) of the Presidential Elections Act.

Byabakama and his team are expected to announce campaign schedule and polling date for the country’s president after nominations.