The Electoral Commission, headed by Justice Simon Byabakama has advised presidential candidates, John Katumba and Willy Mayambala to foot their own bills, insisting that the Electoral Commission is not responsible for funding their campaigns
During the Commission’s meeting held on Monday between the Presidential candidates and the electoral body over violation of COVID-19 SOPs during campaigns, the two candidates begged the EC to support them with fuel, cars and feeding.
However, Justice Byabakama declined their request, explaining they the EC is not mandated to support candidates. Candidates must be well off before running for the country’s top office.
“Some of the issues being raised by candidate Mayambala and Katumba of facilitation, they want a personal vehicle. Imagine a candidate jumping on a Bodaboda with his security officer, first of all, it’s against traffic regulations to be on Bodaboda, three people. This is very unpresidential so now they want vehicles apart from the security vehicles.” Byabakama told the media.
“It’s not within EC powers to give you what the law does not prescribe and we are not the ones who went to parliament to scrap off those privileges, people must really distinguish between what is mandated to be given by the ECA and what is not,” he added.
This however annoyed the candidates who declared that the meeting was a wastage of time.
John Katumba, it should be remembered failed to feed the security personnel assigned him by the EC. Word has it that he feeds them action packed ‘kikomando’ and PK (bubble gum.)
Willy Mayambala on the other hand was attacked by his car lenders who demanded to paid. He resorted to using a boda boda, with one of his security guards.
