Parliament vets Byabakama as others are deferred

The Appointments Committee of Parliament has vetted Justice Simon Byabakama as the Chairman of the Electoral Commission.

Justice Byabakama was re-appointed by President Yoweri Museveni last week following the expiry of his seven-year term.

Justice Byabakama, who served at the court of appeal, was named on November 18, 2016, as the Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Uganda, replacing Engineer Badru Kiggundu, whose 14-year, two-term reign had ended.

Chaired by Speaker Anita Among, the committee also vetted other presidential nominees for the electoral commission.

The nominees include Hajjat Aisha Lubega, who was reappointed as the deputy chairperson; Other nominees include Hajjati Aisha Lubega, who was reappointed as the deputy chairperson; James Emorut; Stephen Tashobya, a commissioner; Anthony Okello, the former Kyoga County Member of Parliament; Dr. Ssimba Ssali Kayunga, a lecturer at Makerere University; and Caroline Bainamaryo.

However, there was confusion when two lists with different names seem to have been tabled

Pamela Etonu Okudi, the Acting Head of Administration at the Electoral Commission; Dr  Ssimba Ssali Kayunga, a lecturer at Makerere University; and the former Nansana municipality legislator, Robert Kasule Sebunya weren’t vetted.

The team is scheduled to run in the 2026 elections. According to the 2026 election route, the nomination of candidates for the 2026 presidential campaigns is set to take place between October 2 and October 3, 2025.

Demarcation of the electoral areas will be done by July 2024, and a general update of the National Voters’ Register will be done by January 2025. Elections are set for January 12 to February 9, 2026.