Government, table proposed electoral reforms now

The electoral year is fast approaching and the rules of the game should be spelt out clearly on the onset to avoid a stampede at the last moment. The Electoral Commission has already launched the 2020/2021 general elections strategic plan, so soon contenders will be hitting the ground to speak to the electorate.

During the presidential election petition filed by former prime minister and then presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi in 2016, the Supreme Court pointed out constitutional issues that needed to be addressed by government. The court recommendations were themed on 10 points, including time for filing and determining of the petition, the nature of evidence in an election petition, the time for holding fresh elections in case an election is nullified, and regulating the use of technology.

The other recommendations of court were on the unequal use of State-owned media, late enactment of relevant legislation, donations during election period, involvement of public officers in political campaigns, the role of the Attorney General in election petitions and implementation of recommendations by the Supreme Court.

Court ordered the Attorney General to follow up the recommendations made with other organs of State, namely Parliament and the Executive, and report to the court within two years from the date of the judgment. Government subsequently said there would be a Constitutional Review Commission to look into the concerns. On August 7, Justice Minister Kahinda Otafiire wrote to President Museveni reminding him about the urgency to constitute the constitutional review commission.

However, none of the 10 recommendations for reform of the electoral system that the Supreme Court made to government and wanted to be carried out within two years has been tabled before Parliament for debate, two years since the judgment was issued.

Now the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has directed the Constitutional Affairs ministry to table before Parliament a Bill on those major electoral reforms on Tuesday next week.

The gesture by the Speaker is just but part of the best practices in a democracy. Waiting for the last-ditch effort to hurry through the amendments always ends up in acrimony and poor legislation.

Government should, therefore, in good faith, table the proposed electoral reforms in time to allow Parliament debate and the citizenry to engage in a free atmosphere to have good laws that will see the country transit through a streamlined election process.

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