EC will have Reason to be Negligent in 2021 with Budget Cut – Opposition

Members of the Opposition in Parliament are concerned that the current cry by Government that they do not have money to run elections could be used against the opposition.

Government recently announced plans to slash the budget for the 2021 elections. According to Justice Simon JByabakama, the commission requires 518.944 billion shillings for the 2021 elections. He says Government has so far allocated 140 billion shillings for voter registration, verification among others.

The Shadow Attorney General and Ndorwa East MP Wilfred Niwagaba says that if the electoral commission’s budget for elections is drastically cut, it might give the electoral commission an excuse of being lax and negligent.

Niwagaba is concerned that electoral materials will not arrive or arrive let in the opposition strong hold. He says it is true that Government does not have enough money, but then Government should have prioritized right.

Moses Kasibante, the MP Rubaga North says that it is unfortunate that Government knew that elections are on after every five years and yet they are talking of money not being enough. He says that the reasoning that there is no money could be a ploy to have the elections marred by irregularities.

He says Government must now look for money in whatever form. He says Ugandans have funded the Government and they should organise elections for them to vote in leaders.

Lyandro Komakech, the Gulu Municipality MP thinks otherwise. He says the electoral commission should be thinking of having a very good law and should not be prioritising the budget for election. He says that this means putting much pressure on money instead of the law simply means the entire process could be flawed.

He says if Government does not have money, it should focus on building strong electoral laws and postpone elections.

Recently, the Electoral Commission chair warned that elections would be marred with irregularities if funding is not provided early for the different electoral process.

URN.