By Dr. Vincent Magombe

20^th Dec 2010

The UPC manifesto, which was launched in Uganda recently by the party President Dr. Olara Otunnu, is a simple, straightforward, and very well written document that has brought a breath of fresh air into the 2011 election campaign dynamics.

It not only gives Ugandans UPC’s objectives, but it also presents them unambiguously and provides the time frames within which certain projects will be implemented.

For example, the manifesto clearly shows that on some of the most contentious issues like the democratic and constitutional rights of Ugandans, UPC under Dr. Olara Otunnu has promised to ensure 100% realization of those rights.

Ugandans will no longer have to fight for these rights. They will just live them; exactly as guaranteed by the constitution of Uganda.  So actually, the Otunnu government will merely actualise the requirement of the constitution of Uganda.

On the Federo question, a national convention will be held.  There, a constructive dialogue will be tabled between all Ugandans with a view to adopting a common ground for the way forward for entire country.

On the economy, and social development in general, UPC will bring back the party’s vigour and vision of the 1960s which saw many hospitals and schools built.  Besides, a clean and uncorrupted civil service will be deployed to efficiently serve the nation.

Equally important is the de-politicization of the military and security forces.  The UPC manifesto reminds us that in a civilised society, the army is there to defend the country against external aggression; not to negatively meddle in the country’s politics.

But most importantly, not to defend an unpopular and illegitimate president in the form of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni!  I believe that in Olara Otunnu, Uganda is now having a presidential candidate with a new and sincere commitment to real freedoms and rights for the people of Uganda.

The other contribution that Olara Otunnu is bringing is his dedication to the campaign for an independent and unbiased Electoral Commission.  The launch of his National Social Movement and his mobilisation of Ugandans for free and fair elections are indicative of a leader who is not merely seeking for power.

His vision is one of establishing a proper democratic infrastructure that can serve as the foundation for sustainable economic advancement, political stability, and socio-cultural co-existence.  He is determined to construct political and socio-economic systems which are for the benefit, development, and promotion of the wider Ugandan society.

The Otunnu vision is one that seeks to build governance infrastructures that can wither political storms and crises, and outlive presidents, army generals, and powerful so-called “Super Ministers”.

A President terrified of losing?

It has become increasingly clear that President Museveni is afraid of losing power; a very realistic prospect in unhindered competitive politics. In other words, he fears losing the people’s support because of free and fair elections.  The President knows this and that is why he has refused to disband the Kigundu Electoral Commission.

Even if we were to look at a very favourable outcome for Museveni – which would be for him to fail to sail through in the first round of the vote, the end result would still be a bad one for President Museveni because Ugandans would then have to go for a second round of voting.

Were that to happen, then it is obvious that all the opposition parties would have to forget their differences and join hands to oust the NRM regime.  Even though there have been some ‘little quarrels’ between FDC and UPC for example, I am still convinced they are minor.  There is much greater national value in the need to peacefully depose an undemocratic regime that has been in power for over 24yrs.

Parallels from the political crisis in Ivory Coast

What has happened in Ivory Coast indicates that President Museveni, like his partner in political crime Laurent Gbagbo, fears what an independent Electoral Commission can do to his extra-weak grip on state power.  Just like the former Ivory Coast President, the Ugandan leader is aware that a new EC is synonymous with a sudden end of his Presidency.

The judgments of Uganda’s highest court, the Supreme Court, have already castigated the Kigundu-led EC as being incompetent and acting outside the electoral laws of the country.  It is beyond doubt that the Kigundu-led Commission has been terminally wounded by its own anti-people transgressions.

Kiggundu and his Commissioners have totally and utterly lost all credibility and respectability.  Few in Uganda would trust any judgment they make.  The citizens of Uganda are itching to bury them in the grave of their own shame.

And we must never, ever forget that the President of Uganda, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, is the real Godfather of this shambolic outfit called the Kiggundu EC.  END. Please log into www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.

magombevincent@yahoo.co.uk