Uganda screens presidential candidates for 2021 elections
Ugandas electoral body on Monday started the screening of presidential candidates for the 2021 general elections.

Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, chairperson of the Electoral Commission, said 10 aspiring candidates had been verified and cleared.

The two-day exercise was held at Kyambogo University Cricket grounds, about nine km east of the capital Kampala.

Byabakama said five candidates, including incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, former Security Minister Henry Tumukunde, former army commander Mugisha Muntu, John Katumba and Nancy Linda Kalembe, had been screened.

Five other candidates will be screened on Tuesday.

I declare Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, a duly nominated presidential candidate for the 2021 general election, said the Electoral Commission chair.

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party in July declared Museveni, who has been in power for over 30 years as the partys presidential candidate and national chairman for the next five years.

According to a previous law in the east African country, people over the age of 75 are not allowed to run for the presidency.

Legislators in 2017 voted to remove the age limit of 75, paving way for Museveni, who is now 76 to run for the presidency in the 2021 polls.

Byabakama also said any presidential candidate who tests positive for COVID-19 would be screened in absentia.

The Electoral Commission is expected to announce the official dates for presidential campaigns and the next years polls.

Upon successful screening, the candidates will be free to campaign, said Byabakama. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News