EC relocates from Jinja road to Industrial Area

The Electoral Commission (EC) is set to close for a month starting Friday, December 16, 2022, until January 16, 2023, to allow the electoral body to relocate to new premises.

According to a circular signed by the commission secretary, Leonard Mulekwa, the EC is shifting from its Jinja road premises to Plot 1-3/5 Seventh Street Industrial Area Kampala, which formerly housed the National Housing and Construction Company (NHCC).

“Please note that during the relocation period, the registry will be open at the new premises… on weekdays except public holidays that may fall on a weekday. The commission regrets any inconvenience that you may encounter during the process of the office relocation,” Mulekwa’s circular reads in part.

Paul Bukenya, the EC spokesperson said that they are temporarily relocating to Industrial Area as they finalize the processes of acquiring a permanent home. 

“We have encountered numerous challenges in acquiring a permanent home that’s why we delayed shifting. Now that the government has temporarily allowed us to use the former offices of National Housing, we have to leave this place because it now belongs to UNRA. They have been patient with us as we looked elsewhere to go,” Bukenya said. 

Asked about the registry, which Mulekwa’s circular said is going to remain open, Bukenya said the purpose will be to receive official communications. 

“The registry is the one which receives letters and all manner of correspondences for the commission. For it, it is going to remain open throughout the month we are going to spend while relocating. But all the other functions of the commission are going to be unavailable,” Bukenya said.  

The relocation of the EC is to allow for the construction of a flyover. The delays in the relocation of the EC offices, UNRA said recently, had caused delays in the start and completion of the construction of the flyovers. However, the one at Queensway that links Entebbe, the city centre, and Nsambya roads is in the final stages of construction.