The controversial lining up method of voting will come under its first test today, as the Electoral Commission conducts its first election at the Local Council level.
The Commission is today conducting elections for Village Women Committees.
The elections will take place in 60,800 villages across the country.
Electoral Commission Deputy Spokesperson, Paul Bukenya, explains that this election is time bound, therefore registered voters who want to participate will have to turn up at the designated time, or else miss the exercise.
Meanwhile, a petition challenging the lining up of voters behind nominated candidates, during local council elections remains unheard, as the Commission kicks off its first set of elections.
Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, and Legal Aid Service Providers Network Uganda, on 31st October 2017 filed a petition at the Constitutional Court, challenging the constitutionality of the lining method of voting.
They argue that sections of the law that provide for lining up behind a nominated candidate, contravene the constitution.
The elections for local council leaders are scheduled for 10th July.
Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Executive Director, Dr Livingstone Sewanyana, says the Attorney General, who is the respondent alongside the Electoral Commission, has been frustrating the petition and has twice not attended pre-conferencing sessions.
Court pre-conferencing is aimed at agreeing on issues for adjudication by parties involved in the petition.
Sewanyana argues that the idea of lining up behind candidates is not consistent with any human rights principles on the ground, that it is discriminative, divisive and a breeding ground for conflict.
He adds that they have adduced evidence through memoranda signed by over 100,000 people across the country, who say that they feel very uncomfortable lining up behind candidates.
