This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
Uganda's election calendar is under threat due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with politicians calling for the country to reopen its economy ahead of the February 2021 general election.
Published on June 6, 2020, the National Electoral Commission had set a roadmap for the election in December 2018, but the pandemic has disrupted the process.
According to the commission's document, nomination days and time for presidential elections should have commenced by the first week of September 2020, with the first round of nominations completed by the third week of July 2020.
However, due to the pandemic, no party has started the process of holding internal elections to select candidates, with Sam Rwakoojo, the Secretary to the Electoral Commission, stating that the roadmap has been disrupted.
Mr Rwakoojo said that the commission is concerned with ensuring the safety of Ugandans, but the opposition has criticized the government for creating an unlevel playing field due to the lockdown.
Yona Kanyomozi, a former minister, has suggested that the election be pushed forward to allow the opposition to gain lost ground.
