The National Unity Platform (NUP) is dissatisfied with President Museveni’s decision to appoint members of the electoral commission who are affiliated with the ruling party, the National Residence Movement (NRM).

The president of the NUP, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobiwine, together with the newly appointed Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, who also doubles as the party spokesperson, made the remarks during a press conference held at the party headquarters in Makerere Kavule on Monday, January 15, 2024.

According to Kyagulanyi, Museveni’s appointment of members is a partisan move that may compromise the independence of the Electoral Commission (EC).

“We are not happy with President Museveni for retaining the electoral commission chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, and his colleagues, who are members of the ruling party NRM. The commission is supposed to be impartial and independent,” Kyagulanyi said.

In his remarks, Joel Ssenyonyi said the ruling regime’s rebranding of the Electoral Commission into an independent Electoral Commission changes nothing in the entire system.

“This doesn’t make sense. You see, when you are a thief, it doesn’t matter if you are baptized with a new name, like innocent. You remain a  thief who is not innocent,” Ssenyonyi said.

He added that whether the name independent is attached or not, the EC is supposed to be independent and nonpartisan.

Ssenyonyi also accused President Museveni of appointing people who participated in the 2021 election on the NRM ticket.

“How can you bring people who participated in the most recent election? This is unacceptable. As we voice this in parliament, we hope that the people of Uganda out there will raise their voices,” he added.

Ssenyonyi explained that an election is a process, not an event, and the process has begun where every Ugandan should get involved because the process belongs to the people of Uganda.

In a January 5, 2024, letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, the President reappointed Byabakama, Hajjat Aisha Lubega, and Stephen Tashobya as Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, respectively.

The new appointments include Makerere University lecturer Dr. Sallie Simba Kayunga, former Nansana Municipality MP 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 their Curriculum Virtue to parliament for vetting and confirmation.