Electoral Commission issues 11 strict warnings as MP, local government campaigns officially begin
The EC is expected to monitor campaign activities closely, working alongside security agencies to enforce these guidelines throughout the campaign period leading up to the polls.
Campaigns for candidates seeking seats in Parliament and Local Government commenced this week across the country, prompting the Electoral Commission (EC) to immediately issue a sweeping set of guidelines and warnings designed to curb illegal activities, maintain peace, and prevent disruption during the electoral period.
Julius Mucunguzi, Head of Public Relations and Spokesperson for the Electoral Commission, detailed the eleven critical rules that all candidates, agents, and supporters must adhere to, stressing that failure to comply could result in severe penalties, including imprisonment.
“As campaigns begin, compliance with the law is non-negotiable,” Mucunguzi stated. “We want campaigns and elections to come and go, leaving the people, communities, and the country stable, united, and progressing.”
Focus on Compliance and Legal Penalties
The EC spokesperson placed significant emphasis on zero tolerance for corruption and hate speech, warning candidates about the serious legal repercussions of electoral misconduct.
- Ban on Voter Bribery: Mucunguzi delivered a strong warning against voter bribery, clarifying that both parties involved—the giver of the bribe and the ‘eater’ (recipient) of the bribe—are culpable. On conviction, they risk subjection to fines, imprisonment, or both.
- Prohibition of Hate Speech: Candidates must strictly desist from using language that sows hatred or divides people on sectarian grounds, including tribe, ethnicity, region, or religion.
- Digital Misinformation: The guidelines specifically target the misuse of digital platforms, warning against the use of social media to spread lies, propaganda, misinformation, disinformation, or fake news.
- Violence and Disorder: The EC reiterated the need to maintain peace at all times, stressing that involvement in violence or any violent acts will not be tolerated.
Time Limits and Protection of Public Spaces
To ensure campaigns do not disrupt the daily lives of citizens, the EC established strict time and location restrictions for rallies and public meetings:
- Campaign Hours: Campaigns must strictly be conducted between the hours of 7:00 am and conclude by 6:00 pm daily.
- Restricted Locations: Campaigns are prohibited from being conducted on or in public roads, markets, schools, or hospitals to avoid disrupting normal business and essential services.
- Consideration for Students: With Senior Six students commencing their final exams, candidates were given a specific warning to avoid making excessive noise near examination centers or schools.
Promoting Respect and National Unity
The final set of guidelines focused on the philosophical approach candidates must take toward competition and political differences, emphasizing respect and stability.
- Mutual Respect: Candidates and supporters must treat one another with respect during campaigns. Mucunguzi noted that a person who supports a candidate or party that others do not support is free to do so and should not be seen or treated as an enemy.
- Stability Over Contest: The EC urged candidates to remember that campaigns and elections are transient events, and their conduct must ensure the country remains stable, united, and progressing afterward.
- Law and Order: All parties must keep law and order and maintain peace at all times throughout the electoral process.
- 11. Elections Are Not a Do or Die Affair: Concluding the list, Mucunguzi issued a philosophical reminder that electoral competition, while important, should never escalate beyond the democratic process.
The EC is expected to monitor campaign activities closely, working alongside security agencies to enforce these guidelines throughout the campaign period leading up to the polls.
