The electoral commission has resolved to renew its partnership with citizen’s coalition for electoral democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) months after the latter was suspended from observing any elections.
CCEDU was on July 4th 2018 suspended from conducting election-related activities over allegations that the organisation has been partisan in the way it has been conducting its activities, breaching electoral observation guidelines for benefits of stake holder in the electoral process.
EC, chairman Justice Simon Byabakama said, the commission and the nation wants credible, honest and impartial partners to access electoral process and make pertinent recommendations, it is upon that background that EC suspends your relationship until further notice,” the statement said.
The suspension followed CCEDU position of opposing voting by lining up behind candidates, “therefore we will not observer LC1 elections,” they wrote.
However, in a meeting held at Electoral Commission headquarters, the two bodies agreed to form a joint committee comprising of three officials from each organisation to expeditiously harmonize the parameters of their working relationship and communication strategy while engaging in election related activities.
The committees will be mandated with presenting mutually binding positions on both sides and pave way for lifting the suspension of CCEDU.
According to Crispin Kaheru, the chairperson of CCEDU, the allegations are baseless since they have done reports before, “so it’s not true that we are just on the other side,” he added.
“While performing our election observation duties, we have to work with the EC because it is them that are directly mandated to manage elections, that is one fact that was clear in the meeting we had,” he said.