Electoral Commission Assures Complainants of Fair Decisions on Local Council Election Disputes

The Electoral Commission has assured Ugandans who lodged complaints concerning the conduct of the recent Local Council elections that their concerns are being handled in accordance with the law.

The Commission says it is continuing to issue and communicate decisions arising from complaints and petitions submitted by individuals and communities dissatisfied with aspects of the manner in which the Local Council elections were conducted.

Speaking on the matter, Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi said the Commission is actively considering the complaints before it and has already issued a number of decisions to the affected communities and Local Councils.

Mucunguzi said the decisions communicated so far also indicate the next course of action for the affected communities and councils, while emphasizing that other complaints are still undergoing consideration.

He assured complainants that the Commission is fully aware of the concerns raised and will address each matter in accordance with the constitutional and legal framework governing elections.

“The Electoral Commission would like to inform all those that brought their complaints to the Commission that it is well seized of your concerns and it will address them and revert to you as provided for in the Constitution,” Mucunguzi said.

The spokesperson explained that the Commission's mandate to handle electoral disputes is anchored in the Constitution, particularly Article 61, which provides for the Commission's responsibilities in relation to elections.

According to Mucunguzi, the Commission is constitutionally mandated to hear and determine election petitions and to ascertain the results of elections that it conducts.

He therefore urged complainants and other stakeholders to remain patient as the Commission undertakes the necessary processes before arriving at final decisions.

Mucunguzi stressed that the Commission will not make decisions hurriedly, but will ensure that every determination is supported by both the law and the facts established during the examination of each complaint.

“You can be rest assured that the Commission will get in touch and will communicate to you formally and officially once it has exhausted whatever processes it needs to undertake to ensure that the decision that is reached is one that is founded in law and also founded in facts,” he said.

The assurance comes as the Electoral Commission continues to deal with complaints arising from the recently concluded Local Council elections, in which voters participated in the election of leaders at the grassroots level across the country.

The Local Council elections attracted significant public interest because they determine leadership at village and parish levels and are directly linked to local administration and community governance.

The complaints submitted to the Commission have raised questions about different aspects of the electoral process, prompting the Commission to review the matters brought before it and determine the appropriate remedies or further action where necessary.

By continuing to communicate its decisions formally, the Commission says it intends to ensure that complainants are kept informed about the status and outcome of their cases.

The Commission's position also underscores the importance of resolving electoral grievances through established legal and institutional mechanisms rather than through informal or extra-legal means.

Mucunguzi's statement therefore serves as an assurance to all parties involved that complaints before the Electoral Commission will be considered and that affected persons will be formally informed once the relevant processes have been completed.

The Commission is expected to continue issuing decisions on the complaints as it completes the processes required to establish the facts and apply the relevant provisions of the law.

For complainants, the Commission's assurance means that cases that have not yet received final decisions remain under consideration and that official communication will follow once the Commission has completed its review.

The Electoral Commission has consequently called for patience as it works through the outstanding complaints, reiterating that its ultimate objective is to ensure that electoral disputes are resolved in a manner that is lawful, factual and consistent with the Constitution.