Candidates seeking electoral positions in Uganda's general election due early next year will have to conduct their campaigns without physical contact as dictated by Covid-19 social and physical distancing, the Electoral Commission has announced.

The commission, which released a new roadmap of electoral activities, has set November 2 and 3, 2020 as nomination dates for Presidential candidates.

NO POSTPONING ELECTION

Article 61(2) of the Constitution provides that the "Electoral Commission shall hold general presidential, parliamentary and local government council elections within the first thirty days of the last ninety days before the expiration of the term of the President."

Responding to questions about calls for postponing the election to give all candidates a fair chance in light of the Covid-19 disruption, Mr Byabakama said, "The option of postponing the election has not even occurred to us as a commission because it is not in our mandate.

Mr Byabakama added that the commission's mandate is limited only to state (public) media which is required to give equal space to all presidential candidates.