KAMPALA – Five senior officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) have been shown the exit in what insiders said points to the reorganization of the electoral body ahead of 2021 elections.
The senior leadership of the polls body is composed of 17 officials.
Sources inside EC told this website that the chairman, Justice Simon Byabakama, refused to renew contracts of the director of finance and administration, Ms. Jovita Byamugisha, the head of election management, Mr. Joshua Wamala, the head of planning and research, Mr. Tumwebaze Mukiga, and the principal election officer, election management only identified as Mr. Lubwama.
The above officials are said to have cleared their desks on Friday, June 28.
The reorganisation of the electoral body, sources said, is set to continue with more officials set to leave in the coming months.
Others on the way out include Ms. Jennifer Angeyo, the head of the legal department, Mr. Leonard Mulekwa, the director of operations, Mr. Richard B. Kamugisha, the head of field operations, and Mr. Pontius Namugera, the director of technical support services.
Also expected to leave are Mr. Joseph Lwanga, the head of finance, and Mr. Taremwa.
Sources added that EC secretary, Sam Rwakoojo, who has served for 18 years is also poised to leave the Commission in August. But when contacted, he said he is going nowhere, adding that those leaving the commission have reached retirement age.
However, sources have told this website that President Museveni is overseeing the changes ahead of the 2021 elections.
The President has consistently expressed anger at EC in the wake of the ruling NRM losing by-elections to the opposition.
On August 26, 2018, at the NRM women conference, President Museveni vowed to get rid of “rotten people” in the EC, which he accused of being corrupt, suggesting that he would replace it with cadres of the ruling National Resistance Movement party.
Separate sources have revealed that investigations have been launched at the EC on some top officials by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for, among other things, alleged corruption. We could not independently verify this claim.
In December last year, the EC released the 2020/21 strategic plan and election roadmap, indicating that it intended to spend Shs868b to see through the processes of organising the 2021 elections.
Implementation of the plan is already underway.
