The Electoral Commission boss Justice Simon Byabakama has explained that the polls governing body has started -a nation wide verification exercise of all administrative units ahead of the LCs and women elections to among others – confirm that the existing administrative units have been legally created, that is, by statutory Instrument. The verification exercise of all the administrative units across the country will run from 17th – 26th March 2022.
The EC also wants to establish that all the over 10,000 administrative units are correctly located within their respectful and rightful Sub-county/Town Council/Municipal Division and Parish/War and that all administrative units’ names as listed, that is, District, Constituency, Sub-county/Town/Municipal Division, Parish/Ward and Village/Cell) are correctly spelt and written; d. Identify and harmonise any variance in the database of administrative units.
Byabakama said that the Commission will conduct the verification/confirmation of administrative Units in a participatory manner, and particularly in consultation with the respective district and city administrative leadership, namely- Chief Administrative Officer (CAO); 2. Assistant Chief Administrative Officer; 3. Principal Assistant Secretary/Senior Assistant Secretary/Sub County Chief; Town Clerk and District/City Planners
Procedure for verification The procedure for the verification and confirmation of Administrative Units exercise will be as follows: Stage 1: Desk Verification Exercise (EC Headquarters and District/City Offices) a. Request for list of administrative units from the Ministry of Local Government and the respective Districts/City Local Governments for harmonisation with the Electoral Commission database; b. Comparison of the submitted lists with the Electoral Commission database to confirm the legality of the administrative units, that is, creation by Statutory Instrument; c. Confirmation of placement of the administrative unit (village/cell) in the respective higher administrative level (parish/ward); d. Compiling of lists of units of variance for verification and confirmation during the field exercise; Stage 2: Field Verification Exercise* a. Stakeholder mobilisation and engagement to create awareness on the purpose of the verification exercise; b. Recruitment and training of verification officials c. Preparation and production of materials for the verification exercise; d.Delivery of materials to districts/cities; e. Conduct of verification meetings at the sub county level; f. Retrieval of verification returns to the district and finally the Electoral Commission headquarters; Stage 3: Verification of Returns to produce a harmonised list of Administrative Units* a. Compilation of verified returns b. Display of the verified and harmonised list at the sub county level; c. Receiving and hearing any objections against inclusion/omission of administrative unit(s), and determining the complaints arising out of the verification exercise; d. Publication of final harmonised list of administrative areas; e. Dissemination of the final harmonised list to stakeholders.
Very important
The verification and confirmation of Administrative Units countrywide is, therefore, a very important exercise in preparation for the smooth organisation and conduct of the Women Councils and Committees and the Administrative Units (LC 1 and LC 2) Elections. The Commission has therefore, called upon all stakeholders to take note of the period for the exercise, and to participate in the confirmation of the Units in accordance with the above guidelines.
