THE Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG) has demanded that complaints arising from the local government elections should not be dismissed.

Judge (rtd) Mathew Mwaimu, the commission chairman, issued this appeal at an event to mark Human Rights Day here yesterday, underlining that the complaints be used for reflection on how to address issues that arose.

This should help to ensure that the complaints do not recur during the 2025 general election, he said, affirming that he had come across several complaints about the elections through media reports, stressing the importance of taking these concerns seriously.

“I have seen in various media platforms complaints about candidates being disqualified and other challenges that arose during voting and the announcement of results,” he said.

“As officials, including those who managed the local government elections, we should not disregard these complaints,” he said, suggesting that any valid complaints “should be addressed to prevent such problems in the upcoming 2025 general elections.”

He similarly urged public servants to work with integrity, avoid complacency and provide excellent services to citizens, speaking after commission secretary Mathew Kirama, explained why the day falls on December 9.

It is celebrated in accordance with the international anti-corruption treaty of 2003, in line with a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, on the occasion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Marking the day is coordinated by institutions that oversee anti-corruption, human rights and good governance efforts in UN member countries, he said, listing them for this case as Office of the President – Public Service Management and Good Governance, the Constitutional and Legal Affairs ministry, the Public Service Ethics Secretariat, the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), and the Public Service Commission.

Auxiliary institutions involved were the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, the National Audit Office, the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance, and the Internal Auditor General’s office.

In the meeting, Neema Mwakalyelye, the PCCB deputy director, encouraged public servants to uphold strong ethical standards to contribute to the betterment of society.