The Electoral Commission (EC) has responded to mounting criticism regarding the delay in swearing in Elias Nalukoola, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe North, emphasizing that the process is within the legal framework.
EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi addressed the situation, asserting that the commission is still operating within the legally prescribed timelines to gazette National Unity Platform’s Nalukoola.
“The law and specifically Section 58 and Section 59 of the Parliamentary Elections Act stipulate the time frame within which the commission has to gazette results of any election or by-election,” he said.
“Section 58 speaks to the fact that the returning officer has got seven days within which to submit a report to the commission after the conclusion of an election and thereafter the commission has got 48 hours to publish and gazette the results of that particular election or by-election.”
With the election on March 13, Returning Officer Henry Makabayi has until close of business tomorrow to submit the results to EC.
The ‘delay’ in Nalukoola’s swearing-in, which has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures and even MPs, has raised questions about the speed and efficiency of the Electoral Commission.
