Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan arrived in Kampala, capital of Uganda, early Sunday
morning as head of the combined African Union (AU), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA) and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Election Observation Mission
(EOM), to the scheduled January 15 general elections in the Republic of Uganda.
A joint arrival statement issued by the three organisations in Kampala over the weekend indicated that
Dr. Jonathan would be assisted by Amb. Shemsudin Ahmed Roble, a member of the COMESA Committee
of Elders and Commander Abebe Muluneh Beyene from IGAD. It added that the Mission comprises 84
short-term observers (STOs) drawn from ambassadors accredited to the AU, officials of election
management bodies, members of civil society organisations, election experts, human rights specialists,
gender and media experts, as well as representatives of youth organizations.
“The Mission shall interact with state authorities, including, the Electoral Commission of Uganda,
political parties, the media, civil society organisations and representatives of the international
community based in Uganda and other election observation missions,” it said.
According to the statement, the observers were drawn from over 25 African countries including Algeria,
Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eswatini, Ethiopia,
The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
It said further: “The observers will be deployed across all regions of Uganda where they will observe the
election day procedures including the opening of polls, voting, closing and the counting processes at the
polling stations.
“The AU-COMESA-IGAD EOM will base its assessment on the legal framework governing elections in
Uganda and the OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections, the standards
and obligations stipulated in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), and
the International Declaration of Principles (DoP) for International Election Observation, among others.”
In a letter notifying Dr. Jonathan of his invitation to lead the mission, AU’s commissioner for political
Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye noted that the former President was selected
in recognition of his strong Pan-African credentials, unwavering commitment to democracy, and proven
leadership in advancing credible and peaceful electoral processes in Africa.
The African Union reiterated its confidence that Dr. Jonathan’s leadership will further strengthen the
credibility of the observation mission and contribute meaningfully to democratic consolidation and
electoral integrity in Uganda and across the African continent.
Ikechukwu Eze
Special Adviser to H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
