The United States (US) Mission has encouraged the Ugandan parliament to maintain internal finest practices and tolerate the use of cameras and phones at polling stations during the 2021 general elections.
In a brief statement issued on the US Mission Uganda official twitter handle Wednesday, the mission states that a proposal to ban cameras and phones would prevent the media from effective election coverage.
The Mission also adds that Ugandans deserve free, fair and transparent elections.
US Mission statement follows the proposal by Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama that he tabled before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee which collecting views on proposed electoral reforms
Justice Byabakama proposed that no person should be allowed to use a camera of any kind or recording devise inside a polling station during election as a way of protecting the privacy of voters who wish to vote in secrecy.
He proposed a penalty of Shillings 800,000- or two-year’s imprisonment or both for any person found guilty of contravening the provision.
The proposal has already drawn sharp criticism from legislators and on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and other political players
We encourage Parliament to uphold international best practices & allow use of cameras & phones in polling stations on election day. The proposed ban by EC would prevent media from providing effective election coverage. Ugandans deserve free, fair & transparent electoral process.
— U.S. Mission Uganda (@usmissionuganda) September 18, 2019
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