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The Electoral Commission shall publish in the Gazette the campaign period for candidates seeking to be elected to respective Councils and Committees for Older Persons.


GUIDELINES FOR NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION OF OLDER PERSONS COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES, 2020

1.0 Introduction
These guidelines shall apply to nomination of candidates for election to Older Persons Committees and Councils from Village/Cell to District/City/Kampala Capital City Authority levels.

2.0 Laws applicable

(a) The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 (as amended);
(b) Electoral Commission Act, Cap 140 (as amended);
(c) National Council For Older Persons Act, 2013 (as amended);
(d) The Political Parties and Organizations Act 2005 (as amended); and
(e) The National Council for Older Persons Regulations, 2015.

3.0 Definition of Older Person
Older person means a person aged sixty (60) years and above.

4.0 Levels at which Elections shall be held.
These guidelines shall apply to nomination of candidates for election of members of Older Persons Committees at the following levels:
4.1 Village/Cell;
4.2 Parish/Ward;
4.3 Sub-County/Town/Municipal Division;
4.4 Municipality/City Division;
4.5 District/City; and
4.6 Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

5.0 Electoral Structures/Electoral Colleges for Older Persons
5.1 Village/Cell level
Older Persons within a village/cell and who are willing to be members of the village/cell older persons council.
5.2 Parish/Ward Level
The five executive committees members from each village/cell within the parish/ward.

5.3 Sub-county/Town/Municipal Division Level
The five executive committee members from each parish/ward in the Sub-county/Town/ Municipal Division
5.4 Municipality/City Division Level
The five executive committee members from each parish/ward in the Municipality /City Division.
5.5 District/City Level
All Sub-county/Town/Municipal Division, Municipality or City Division executive committees within a district or city.
5.6 Kampala Capital City Authority
All City Division executive committee members within Kampala Capital City Authority.
6.0 Composition of Older Persons Committees (Elective Offices)
(a) Any older persons aged 60 years and above and are members of the respective Electoral
College shall qualify to be executive committee members of the councils for older persons.
(b) An executive committee for older persons shall consist of the following elective offices:
(i) Chairperson;
(ii) Vice Chairperson;
(iii) Secretary;
(iv) Vice Secretary; and
(v) Treasurer.
N.B. At least one third of the executive committee members shall be older women
7.0 Nomination of Candidates for Election as Members of Older Persons Committees
7.1 Appointment of Nomination Days, Places and Time
The Electoral Commission shall publish in the Gazette and the local media a nomination day(s), place and time when candidates who wish to stand for election at older persons councils and
committees shall be nominated.
7.2 Qualification of Candidates for Election as Members of Older Persons Committees
A person shall not qualify for election as a member of an older persons’ executive committee unless that person:
(a) Is a citizen of Uganda;
(b) A registered voter in the older persons council register
(c) Has attained the age of sixty years or above;
(d) Ordinarily resides in the village/cell (for village/cell elections); and  (e) Is a member of the older persons council for which the older persons committee is being elected.

7.3 Nomination Procedures
(a) Nomination of candidates for election to village/cell, parish/ward, Sub-county/Town/ Municipal Division older persons committee shall be conducted at Sub-county/Town/
Municipal Division level.
(b) Nomination of candidates for election to Municipality/City Division or District/City/KCCA Older Persons committees shall be conducted at Municipality/City Division level or District/
City/KCCA.
(c) The nomination of candidates for election to an office in the older persons committee shall be made by the candidate himself/herself submitting to the Returning Officer/
Assistant Returning Officer a duly filled nomination paper on nomination day(s).
(d) The nomination paper shall be signed by the candidate and seconded by two registered voters in the respective Older Persons Council/Electoral College.
(e) A person shall not subscribe to more than one nomination paper, and no person shall second more than one candidate for the same office.
(f) The nomination of candidates may be made by a political organization or political party sponsoring a candidate or by a candidate standing for election as an independent without
being sponsored by a political organization or political party.
(g) A political organization or political party shall not sponsor more than one candidate for a given office.
(h) Where only one candidate is nominated at the close of nomination day(s) the person nominated shall be declared elected unopposed.
(i) Where at the close of nomination day(s) no person is duly nominated for election to an office, the Returning Officer shall report to the Commission that no candidate was
nominated.
N.B. i) No nomination fee is required for nomination of candidates for older persons committees.
ii) No academic qualifications are required for nomination of candidates for older persons committees.
7.4 Allocation of Symbols
The Commission shall:
(a) allocate to each candidate the symbol of his/her political organization or political party in case of a candidate sponsored by a political organization or party;
(b) allocate to a candidate who is not sponsored by a political organization or political party a symbol chosen by him/her; and
(c) A symbol under (b) shall be chosen and assigned from among symbols approved by the Commission for purpose of the election; and these include:

OLDER PERSONS ELECTION

N.B. Independent candidates must ensure that they have selected and have been allocated symbols before leaving the nomination venue. This will be done by the candidate signing against the selected symbol on the Nomination Control Form.

7.5 Schedule for Nomination of Candidates at Parish/Ward, Sub-County/Town/ Municipal Division, Municipality/City Division and District/City/KCCA Levels
(a) Nomination of candidates for election of Parish/Ward Older Persons’ Committees shall be conducted after the Village/Cell Older Persons’ Committee elections.
(b) Nomination of candidates for election of Sub County/Town/Municipal Division and Municipality/City Division Older Persons’ Committees shall be conducted after the Parish/ Ward Older Persons’ Committee elections.
(c) Nomination of candidates for election of District/City/KCCA Older Persons’ Committees shall be conducted after the Sub County/Town/Municipal Division Older Persons’ Committee elections.

8.0 Withdrawal of Candidates
A candidate may withdraw his/her candidature at any time before polling day by a written notice addressed to the Returning Officer and signed by the candidate, witnessed by two registered members of the respective college.
Where a candidate is sponsored by a political party, the withdrawal shall be endorsed by the Political Party.

9.0 Campaigns
The Electoral Commission shall publish in the Gazette the campaign period for candidates seeking to be elected to respective Councils and Committees for Older Persons.

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