Electoral Commission Engages Media On 2021 Elections

The Electoral Commission in Uganda has this week met with management of Nation Media Group in order to discuss preparations for general elections expected in 2021. 

Among the topics to be discussed were the media’s role in ensuring a peaceful processes, as well as past incidents in which journalists have been on the receiving end of violence.

The monitoring and declaration of results was another area of discussion, with commissioner Justine Ahabwe Mugabi stating that media houses are free to tally results but the final declaration and announcement must be down to the commission.  

Speaking on the engagement commission deputy chairperson Hajjat Aisha Lubega Basajjanaku stated, “The general public, and particularly the electorate, will be following all the electoral activities through the media. We, therefore, consider it very crucial for media owners and managers to have deeper understanding of the roadmap and the processes involved, in order to ease your information and education functions. The Commission is, indeed, committed to deliver on its crucial mandate. However, the conduct of the media on how it covers the election and the role the media will play in keeping the country united during and after elections will be equally scrutinised.”

The Nation Media Group requested that the commission work to ensure journalists are protected during the election period, while the commission asked that media crosscheck facts with the body before publication.