The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has moved to address regional instability that is created by disputed election results.

The assembly last week in Kampala adopted a draft election observation manual that is expected to determine the credibility of electoral processes and prevent post election violence in the East African Community (EAC) partner states.

In an interview with The New Times, Dr James Ndahiro, Rwanda’s member of EALA said that the election manual will give guidelines on election observation and monitoring in the region.

"The EAC partner states have been affected by the worst conflicts resulting from the post election violence” he noted.

"With the adoption of this tool (election manual) the election violence will be prevented in our region.”
He further revealed that the standard election manual document will determine the legitimacy of electoral outcomes in the EAC bloc.

The EALA developed this tool to entrench a democratic culture of transparent electoral processes and to prevent conflict in the region.

The document provides for impartial, all inclusive competent and accountable electoral institutions, staffed with well trained personnel and equipped with adequate logistics.

It also sets principles and conditions for electoral systems, election management bodies, voter registration, and the registration of political parties, the nomination process and the campaign process.

According to the draft election observation manual, the final report will cover the whole election cycle, pointing out irregularities if any, making suggestions for improvement.

The draft also states that the preliminary report of observers should be accurate, timely and impartial and communicated to the Election Monitoring Board within four hours after voting has ended.

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