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Simon Byabakama, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission
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By Our Reporter
Parliament - The Electoral Commission (EC) has requested an additional Shs10.463Bn to enhance staff salaries, aiming to motivate workers and improve the delivery of electoral services ahead of the 2026 general elections.
This appeal was made by Simon Byabakama, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, during his presentation of the 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee. The Commission also seeks Shs1.66Bn for the wages of returning officers in newly created cities and Terego District, where offices have remained non-operational due to the lack of staff salaries.
“The third and final installment of the staff salary enhancement, which was approved by Parliament in 2017 and due in the 2019/2020 financial year, amounting to Shs10.463Bn, has not been honored to date. This has created a lot of anxiety among our staff. The Commission is therefore requesting additional resources to motivate staff and improve the delivery of electoral services,” Byabakama explained.
He further highlighted the challenges posed by non-operational offices in new administrative areas:
“For a long time, the Commission has required Shs1.66Bn for remuneration of staff in the 10 new cities and Terego District. To date, these offices have not been functionalized, despite the law mandating that every district must have a returning officer and assistant returning officer. As we approach the general elections, the absence of these officers will create significant logistical challenges since all districts will simultaneously conduct election activities.”
Suspension of EC officials
Justice Byabakama also addressed the suspension of the EC Secretary, Leonard Mulekwah, and five other officials due to allegations of mismanagement of funds. He emphasized the Commission’s commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability.
“The Commission has a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption. Investigations revealed questionable handling of some funds, prompting us to suspend several staff members to facilitate internal investigations. We await the conclusion of these investigations before taking further action. At this stage, I will not delve into the specifics of the matter as it remains under investigation,” Byabakama stated.
The EC Chairperson reassured the committee of the institution’s commitment to ensuring integrity and transparency in its operations, especially as the nation gears up for the critical 2026 elections.
Torch Media Africa
