NO MEN IN SKIRTS! EC Warns Gays, Transgenders Off Women Council Elections, Insists: ‘Biological Women Only’
Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi addressing journalists on Monday
KAMPALA – The Electoral Commission (EC) has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of the upcoming Women Council Elections, making it crystal clear that when it says “women’s elections,” it means women who were born women.
Unveiling the roadmap for the long-awaited Village (LC I), Parish (LC II) and Women Councils elections, EC boss Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi paused the usual election talk to issue a warning that has since sparked chatter in political and social circles.
“To qualify to participate in women elections you must be a woman, not a transgender please! You must be a biological woman,” Byabakama declared.
In other words, according to the EC, no amount of lipstick, high heels, fancy hairstyles or social media declarations will earn anyone a place on the Women’s Register unless they were biologically born female.
The announcement came as the Commission rolled out a packed election programme that will see millions of Ugandans participate in grassroots polls beginning next month.
The elections have been years in the making after repeated postponements due to lack of funding. Parliament had previously extended the tenure of Local Council leaders several times to avoid a leadership vacuum.
Now, with government finally releasing funds, the EC says the wait is over.
The electoral process kicks off on July 6 with the registration and verification of village residents. Citizens aged 18 and above will have until July 10 to ensure their names appear in the appropriate registers.
Village Women’s Registers and General Registers will then be displayed for public scrutiny, with residents encouraged to identify deceased persons, minors, non-citizens and anyone who no longer lives in the village.
Village Women Committees will be elected on July 23 while LC I Chairpersons will face voters on July 28.
As always, Uganda’s famous “lining up” system will be used. Voters will physically stand behind their preferred candidate, agent, portrait or symbol for everyone to see.
The Commission says the country has 71,214 villages, each of which will double as a polling station during the elections.
Candidates seeking village leadership positions won’t need academic qualifications or nomination fees. They only need to be Ugandan citizens aged 18 years and above, registered in their villages and ordinarily resident there.
While Women’s Committee elections will remain non-partisan, LC I Chairperson races will be fought under the multiparty system.
For now, however, the headline grabbing message from the EC remains simple: when it comes to Women’s Council elections, the Commission says only biological women should join the queue.
GOT A HOT STORY? EMAIL: redpeppertips@gmail.
SOURCE PROTECTION/CONFIDENTIALITY IS OUR NO.1 PRIORITY.
About Post Author
