Electoral Commission in massive staff shake-up
Top officials. Electoral Commission chairman Simon Byamukama (centre), his deputy Aisha Lubega (right) and the Commission spokesperson, Mr Jotham Taremwa, (left) arrive for a press conference at the EC offices in Kampala in 2017. PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA.
What you need to know:
- On August 26, 2018, President Museveni vowed to get rid of “rotten people” in the EC, which he accused of being corrupt, suggesting that he would replace it with cadres of the ruling National Resistence Movement party.
- Both Mr Rwakoojo and Mr Taremwa scoffed at the possibility of them having to leave the Commission any time soon, with Mr Rwakoojo insisting that no other senior employee of the Commission will follow the five out of the door in the near future.
The Electoral Commission (EC) is in the middle of a major staff shake-up, with a director and four top officials having exited the organisation two days ago. There are indications that a number of other top officials will leave in the coming two months.
The five top officials leading key departments had sought to extend their contracts, but the Commission led by Mr Simon Byabakama, turned down their requests, sources at the electoral body say.
“The new Commission refused to renew their contracts, the first five have left by today. These are sensitive departments I am talking about. It’s like they just fired them,” a source with knowledge of the operations of the Commission told Sunday Monitor on Friday.
We put this information to top officials of the EC, but got conflicting responses.
“I am not aware of anybody [being fired] so that can’t be true. Whoever is perpetuating the rumour has his reasons,” Mr Jotham Taremwa, the EC spokesperson, said.
We then turned to Mr Sam Rwakoojo, the secretary to the Commission. Mr Rwakoojo said: “They are over 60 years [of age]. There is only one director whose contract ended [among those who left] four years ago and it came up for review. They are over 60 years and the Commission thought they would give younger people a chance. Nobody else was discussed or has a contract ending soon,” he said.
Those our sources confirm to have left on Friday are the director of finance and administration, Ms Jovita Byamugisha, the head of election management, Mr Joshua Wamala, the head of planning and research, Mr Tumwebaze Mukiga, and the principal election officer, election management only identified as Mr Lubwama.
Those sources say are set to leave in July include Ms Jennifer Angeyo, the head of the legal department, Mr Leonard Mulekwa, the director of operations, Mr Richard B. Kamugisha, the head of field operations, and Mr Pontius Namugera, the director of technical support services.
Also expected to leave are Mr Joseph Lwanga, the head of finance, and Mr Taremwa. The sources add that Mr Rwakoojo is also poised to leave the Commission in August.
Untouchable?
Both Mr Rwakoojo and Mr Taremwa scoffed at the possibility of them having to leave the Commission any time soon, with Mr Rwakoojo insisting that no other senior employee of the Commission will follow the five out of the door in the near future.
By press time, Sunday Monitor was unable to reach Mr Byabakama, the EC chairman, nor his deputy, Ms Aisha Lubega, for a comment on the matter.
The EC top management team led by Mr Rwakoojo, is composed of 17 officials. Mr Rwakoojo has held the post of secretary to the Commission for more than 18 years, serving under Aziz Kasujja (RIP), Dr Badru Kiggundu, and now Mr Byabakama.
In December last year, the EC released the 2020/21 strategic plan and election roadmap, indicating that it intended to spend Shs868b to see through the processes of organising the 2021 elections.
Implementation of the plan is already underway.
Background
Meanwhile, separate sources have told Sunday Monitor that investigations have been launched at the EC on some top officials by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for, among other things, alleged corruption. We could not independently verify this claim.
On August 26, 2018, President Museveni vowed to get rid of “rotten people” in the EC, which he accused of being corrupt, suggesting that he would replace it with cadres of the ruling National Resistence Movement party.
“The Electoral Commission is full of rotten people,” NTV, Sunday Monitor’s sister media outlet, quoted Mr Museveni telling a women’s conference in Kampala on August 26, 2018.
“I am going to get rid of them [EC]. Why should we suffer with corrupt election officials when NRM has got so much manpower? They should be out. Get out,” he said during the National Women’s Council conference.
State House later, in a press statement, said the incumbent had not threatened to dissolve the electoral body. The statement only quoted the President telling women leaders to promote education and economic empowerment.
