President Yoweri Museveni has named four new commissioners for Uganda’s Electoral Commission (EC). The appointed individuals are Justice Simon Byamukama Mugyenyi as Chairperson, Hajjati Aisha Lubega as Deputy Chairperson, Stephen Tashobya, and new entrants Dr. Ssimba Ssali Kayunga (Makerere University political science lecturer), Anthony Okello (former Kyoga County Member of Parliament), Robert Sebunya Kasule (former Nansana Municipality MP), and Pamela Etonu Okudi (EC’s head of Administration).
President Museveni, in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, dated January 5, 2023, invoked Article 60 (1) of the 1995 Constitution, stating, “I have appointed the persons listed as Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson of the EC respectively. I hereby forward their names to Parliament for approval.”
Outgoing commissioners include Peter Emorut, Hajji Mustapha Ssebagala, Justine Ahabwe Mugabi, and Nathaline Etomaru. The term of the previous commission expired on January 7, 2024. The new commission is set to undergo vetting by Parliament’s Appointment Committee, chaired by the Speaker.
Established under Article 60 of the 1995 Constitution, the EC comprises the Chairman, Deputy Chairperson, and five other members appointed by the President with parliamentary approval. Additionally, it has a Secretariat headed by the Secretary.
The EC’s functions, as outlined in Article 61 of the 1995 Constitution, encompass ensuring regular, free, and fair elections, organizing, conducting, and supervising elections and referenda, demarcating constituencies, declaring election results, compiling and maintaining the voters’ register, handling election complaints, formulating and implementing voter education programs, and performing other functions prescribed by law.
