EAC Election Observer Teams to the Uganda General Election flagged off in Kampala
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 12th January, 2021: Observer teams from the East African Community Election Observer Mission (EAC-EOM) to the January 2021 Uganda General Election were formally flagged off in Kampala this morning.
Flagging off the observers, EAC-EOM Head of Mission H.E. Domitien Ndayizeye, said that to ensure objectivity and impartiality, the observers had been drawn from all the EAC Partner States except the Republic of Uganda which is going to election on 14th January, 2021.
“The EAC-EOM short-term observers are drawn from the East African Legislative Assembly, Electoral Management Bodies, Human Rights Commissions, EAC Coordinating Ministries and the Staff of the EAC Organs, namely the East African Legislative Assembly, East African Court of Justice and the EAC Secretariat,” said H.E. Ndayizeye.
H.E. Ndayizeye disclosed that the EAC observers had been deployed to various districts for deployment including Kampala, Masaka, Gulu, Arua, Mubende, Masindi, Soroti, Mbale, Mbarara, Kabale, Kasese and Moroto.
“The mission is in line with Article 3 (3) of the Treaty for Establishment of the EAC, which requires Partner States to adhere to the universally acceptable principles of good governance, human rights and social justice,” said the former President of Burundi.
H.E. Ndayizeye said that in its assessment of the electoral process, the EAC-EOM would be guided by the democratic principles and values outlined in the African Charter for Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the EAC Principles for Election Observation and Evaluation.
“I want to thank the people of Uganda for by and large conducting themselves with maturity during the election campaigns period,” said the Head of Mission, and urged Ugandans to uphold dignity and peace even on Election Day.
He urged all political actors to avoid incitement and acts of provocation so as to ensure that the election was peaceful and ended amicably.
“I further call upon the media in Uganda to exercise social responsibility by reporting objectively on the election and to avoid rumours and misinformation that could undermine the entire election process,” he said.
“A transparent and peaceful election will be a plus not just for Uganda but for the entire EAC region as a whole. The sovereign will of the people expressed through a democratic process is a guarantee for peace, stability and economic growth,” said H.E. Ndayizeye.
He said that experience had shown that democratic gains were often incremental in nature and that patience and tolerance among political actors and the citizenry yields increased democratic space in the long run.
With the Head of Mission at the flagging off ceremony were the Deputy Head of Mission, Hon. Dr. Oburu Oginga, Member of the East African Legislative Assembly, and the Mission Coordinator, Mr. Charles Njoroge.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka
Senior Public Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 768 552087
Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001: 2015 Certified
Tags: Uganda Elections 2021 , #Uganda2021, EOM-UG