Uganda: EC Holds Election for MPs With Disabilities

The Electoral Commission (EC) today is set to conduct elections for Members of Parliament representing persons with disabilities, with the National Delegates Conference scheduled to take place at Zambia Gardens in Kampala.

The election will be held in accordance with the Constitution and electoral laws, which provide for the representation of persons with disabilities in Parliament by five Members of Parliament, one of whom must be a woman.

According to the Electoral Commission, the female Member of Parliament representing persons with disabilities was earlier elected unopposed, leaving four positions to be filled through today's delegates' conference.

"The Constitution and the electoral laws provide that persons with disabilities are represented in Parliament by five Members of Parliament, including one woman. The female representative went through unopposed, and today the delegates will elect the remaining four members," said Julius Mucunguzi, the Electoral Commission spokesperson.

Mucunguzi said the electoral college responsible for electing the MPs comprises members of District Executive Committees for persons with disabilities from across the country.

Each of the 146 districts and cities will send five delegates, bringing the total number of delegates to 730.

"These delegates form the electoral college that will vote to elect the four Members of Parliament representing persons with disabilities," he said.

He added that the MPs elected under this process fall under the Special Interest Groups category provided for in the Constitution.

Mucunguzi further noted that all candidates contesting for the PWD parliamentary positions were nominated during the general nomination exercise conducted by the Commission.

He urged delegates to observe the law and maintain peace during the electoral process.

"We call upon all delegates to conduct themselves peacefully and in accordance with the electoral laws," Mucunguzi said.

The election is part of the ongoing process to constitute the 12th Parliament.

Read the original article on Nile Post.