The Electoral Commission is cash strapped and still figuring out how it will run the upcoming Presidential elections.
The Commission up to now is still imploring government to approve its budgets and release money which among others will help in printing of ballot papers.
While appearing at Parliament on Thursday to present a budget framework paper to the Legal Committee, the EC top managers led by Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama and his secretary Sam Rwakojo pleaded with legislators so that money is allocated in time.
“Unfunded priorities include printing of ballot papers, dispatch of polling kits, welfare for polling day officials, field supervision of polling activities and payment to polling day officials during presidential, parliamentary and local government elections,” Byabakama said.
In the last financial year, government released only 140 billion shillings out of 439 billion, which crippled the commission’s work.
“If this budget shortfall is not addressed, it may adversely affect the smooth conduct of elections. The Commission therefore calls for your urgent intervention in order to avert this crisis,” Byabakama warned.
Further EC needs 11 billion to fund the recruitment of staff to work in the new 23 districts and 72 billion to relocate to new home.
“There is no money to print ballot papers for the general elections and all elections. We need money to print ballot papers. … UNRA is asking us to get out of our swamp by January 2020. We don’t have money,” Sam Rwakojo explained.