By TV10 Political Desk
Hajjati Aisha Lubega has retained her position as deputy chairperson while Mr Stephen Tashobya bounces back as a member. New appointees are; Makerere University’s Political Science and Public Administration lecturer, Dr Sallie Simba Kayunga, former Kyoga County MP Mr Anthony Okello, the commission’s Acting Head of Administration Ms Pamela Etonu Okudi and and former Nansana MP Mr Robert Kasule Sebunya.
The appointees will be vetted by Parliament’s Appointments Committee chaired by Ms Among, before they are confirmed into office. In January, 5, 2024 letter to the Speaker of Parliament, the president forwarded Byabakama’s name to the presidential appointment’s committee for vetting.
Biography:
Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama is the Chairperson of the Commission. Justice Byabakama has over 35 years experience in Legal Practice and Administration of Justice. He holds a Bachelor of Law Degree (Makerere University, 1980) and a Diploma in Legal Practice (Law Development Center, 1980).
In 1992, he was appointed a principal State Attorney, and later promoted to Senior Principal State Attorney at the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) headquarters in 1996. He was elevated to the rank of Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, and appointed High Court Judge in May 2008.
Justice Byabakama served as resident Judge in Lira, Soroti and Masindi districts until his appointment to the Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court on promotion in October 2015.
In November 2016, Justice Byabakama was appointed Chairperson of the Electoral Commission for a seven (7) year term. The president also reappointed Hajjati Aisha Lubega as the deputy chairperson and Stephen Tashobya as a commissioner.
The new news are Makerere Political Science and Public Administration lecturer Dr. Ssimba Ssali, former Kyoga County MP Anthony Okello and EC’s Acting Head of Administration Pamela Etonu Okudi. The new members of the Electoral body now await approval of Parliament’s appointment committee, chaired by the Speaker of Parliament and her Deputy.
The role of the commission is to engage in the organization of National, Parliamentary and Local Government elections, conduct civic education among other activities.T heir tenure had ended on January 7, putting all policy-related activities on hold.
The Article 60 of the Constitution, which established the EC, grants commissioners a seven-year term that can be renewed once. President has also nominated three new names to serve on the Electoral Commission ahead of the 2026 general election.
New appointments
According to the letter, the president has appointed four new faces as commissioners to the Electoral Commission, including Makerere University lecturer, Dr.Sallie Simba Kayunga, former Nansana Municipality MP in the ninth and 10th parliaments, Robert Kasule Ssebunya, former Kyoga County MP, Anthony Akol and Pamela Etonu Okudi, the former acting head of administration of the EC.
The names will now present the CVs to parliament for vetting and confirmation
