Ugandans abroad are now at liberty to vote for the candidates of their choice after a high court decision directing the Electoral Commission-EC to let Ugandans in Diaspora engage in elections.

The high court in Kampala has also ordered that prisoners be allowed to equally participate in the elections.
This declaration follows a petition by filed to the high court 2 years ago by a Lawyer called Stephen Kalali.

Kalali petitioned the court seeking a provision for eligible Prisoners and Ugandans in the Diaspora to be registered as voters and exercise their right to elect.

Kalali argued that this section of Ugandans was being discriminated against and stipulated that the high court declares prison a registration and polling center ahead of the 2021 elections.

In the application, he told the Court that being imprisoned or living in the diaspora does not disqualify a Ugandan citizen from voting.  

In a court declaration on Thursday morning, Justice Lydia Mugambe directed the government and the Electoral Commission to put in place all the necessary methods to ensure all eligible Ugandans participate in all future elections.

The Electoral Commission had earlier argued that there is no legal provision for people in the Diaspora or places of detention to vote.

Justice Mugambe said the EC was acting contrary to the basic rights and freedoms of the Constitution because being a prisoner or living in the diaspora does not take away citizenship or the right to vote.

Mugambe noted that prisoners are allowed to vote in countries like neighboring Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana, and these countries are signatories to international human rights laws like Uganda.

The right to vote in the constitution is mandated to all citizens 18years  and above.