Kampala — THE Electoral Commission (EC) has banned Cabinet ministers from using

government vehicles to canvass votes for the National Resistance Movement, to which all belong.

The EC has also asked the Minister of Public Service to table before

Parliament the entitlements of the chairman of the NRM who is also the

incumbent, President Yoweri Museveni.

The EC Commissioner for Eastern Region, Joseph Biribonwa, while appearing on the Capital Gang talk-show on Saturday morning, said they were going to be tough on those who would misuse the resources of the Government.

In an interview with The Sunday Vision after the talk show, Biribonwa said, "We have a law that forbids the misuse of government resources and we are going to implement it in our guidelines."

He said the matter would also be raised tomorrow (Monday) at a meeting

at the EC headquarters, when all candidates and or their representatives will be handed strict guidelines to follow while on the campaign trail. He said that the commission would strictly follow the Presidential Elections Act 2005, and The Elections Act while issuing the guidelines.

The Presidential Elections Act states that, "Except as authorised under this

Act, or otherwise authorised by law, no candidate shall use government

resources for the purpose of campaigning for election."

The law, however gives the President leeway, stating, "A candidate who holds the office of President may continue

to use government facilities during the

campaign, but shall use only those government facilities which are attached

to and utilised by the holder of that office."

The law demands that for purposes of implementing the above, "The Minister in charge of Public Service shall lay before Parliament those government facilities which are attached to and utilised by the President."

Information State Minister Dr. James Nsaba Buturo said Cabinet had received communication about the policy barring ministers from use of government resources.

"The law doesn't permit it and we hope that the ministers and other pubic

officials will follow suit," Buturo said.

Biribonwa urged the members of the public and the press to report any cases of misuse of government resources, saying the EC would take drastic measures against those found flouting the law.