THE REPUITLIC OF UCANDA

STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT

BY

THE HON. MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL

AFFAIRS

ON THE IRREGULARITIf,S AND INCONSISTENCIES IN

PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES TO POLICE CONSTABLES WHO
ITENDERED SECURITY SERVICES DURING THE ELECTORAL
PROCESS

KAMPALA

9th February 2021

 l- Introduction
Rt. I-Ion. Speaker and colleagues, I am making this statement in response to
the concerns raised at tliis floor of Parliament on 2nd February 2021 by
Hon. Timuzigu Michael Kamugisha over the Irregularities and
lnconsistencies in Payment of Allowances to Police Constables Who
Ilendered Security Services during the Electoral Process.

2. Ihave consulted with relevant bodics including the Electoral

Commission and I wish to respond as follows:

l. The Electoral Commission processed and released funds for activities of

General Elections 2021,to Returning Officers of each City/District with
instructions to pay temporary election officials, after every round of
elections, that is Presidential and Parliamentary; City/District Local
Government Councils; Municipaliry/City Division Councils; and Sr"rb
County/Town/Municipal Division Councils Elections.

2. In preparation for the General Elections, the Electoral Cornurissron

provided for recruitment and deployment of a Polling Constable in
charge of maintaining order at each Polling Station and another
Constable for enforcing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at the
polling station.

3. The Electoral Commission provided for payment of Shs. 40,000/- (forfy

thousand shillings) only, per round of elections, to each Polling
Constable.

4. The Electoral Commission further provided for payment of Shs. 30,000/-

(thirty thousand shillings) only, per round of elections, to the Polling
Constable in charge of enforcing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
at every polling station.

5. The SOPs were put in place to prevent and combat the spread of the
COVID - I 9 during the conduct of election activities.
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6. The Cornrnission released funds totaling approximately 8,000,000,000/-
(eight billion shillings) only, towards payment of the above ternporary
election officials.

7. The disparity between the amount payable to the Polling Constable

(Shs. 40,000/-) and the Constable for SOPs (Shs. 30,000/-) is because
the SOPs official is a new category introduced to the Polling Station
structure.

8. The allowance rates for each constable are clear and the difference
does not constitute an irregularity as it has been alleged.
Furthcrmore, there is no inconsistency in the amounts being paid to
the respective temporary election officials as their rates are clearly
stated in the appointment letter.

9. Rt. Hon. Speaker, Honourable Members, I wish to confirm that the

Electoral Comrnission released all the money required to pay all our
temporary election officers. This includes Polling Constables, who were
appointed in writing and deployed at polling stations.

10. The Electoral Commission fuither issued a Circular to all

City/District Returning Officers instructing them to ensure that all
temporary election officials are paid as per the rates indicated in the
respective appointment letters and in accordance with the terms of
ernployrnent.

1 1. This position was communicated to the general public and

stakeholders in the electoral process through public announcements and
press notices.

12. However, it has come to our notice that there has been some delays in
some parts of the country to make payment to Police Constables,
especially those who were drawn from outposts.
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13. Giverr the tight demands of the General Elections schedule, the
Retulning Officers were unable to make the required arrangements for
travel to these stations to make these direct payments.

14. Now that the elections are concluded, the necessary arrangements will
be made to pay the constables right from their posts.

15. The Electoral Commission has assured me to settle the delayed

payment within a period of fourteen (14) working days from today 9tr'
February, 2021 and will also handle any specific cases where there has
been unnecessary delays to pay appointed officers.

3. Conclusion

Ll conclusion, I thank you very much Madam Speaker and I thank Hon.
Timuzigu Michael, MP from Kajara for raising these concerns.

Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu (MP),

MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS