Museveni names personal lawyer, friends to head poll body

Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, has appointed his long time personal lawyer, Simon Byabakama, as chairperson of Uganda’s Electoral Commission.

Justice Simon Byabakama was also the lead councill  for Museveni in a case which Museveni sued his long time political rival Dr. Kiiza Besigye in a 2006 rape and treason case.

Also appointed is Stephen Tashobya, a long time National Resistance Movement (NRM) Member of Parliament who has served Museveni’s party.

The appointment of new electoral commission comes at a time when opposition politicians and activists wanted to be included in decisions leading to the new electoral commission.

Observers in the February 2016 General Election recommended massive changes in the electoral process including inclusive decision in appointments of electoral commission.

Though Museveni has not publicly declared his intention of running for the 6th term in office, his party is in high gear pushing for constitutional amendment to remove the age cap for presidential aspirants to allow Museveni run for another term in 2021.

Report by Kennes Bwire