By George Murumba

14^th Feb 2011

The British government has warned the ruling NRM government to desist from using violence to quell protests by unarmed civilians if and when they chose to demand for political reforms and freedoms like the Tunisians and Egyptians did, Uganda Correspondent can reveal.

The British warning was promted when a group of pro-democracy Ugandan activists in the United Kingdom petitioned Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office [FCO] in London to raise their grave concerns over the conduct and preparations for the general elections due this Friday.

The activists, who were mainly from Uganda’s leading opposition parties, were also accompanied by the London based Ugandan Journalist Dr. Vincent Magombe.  They were met by Mr. Lewis Clark; the Desk Officer for Uganda and Tanzania, and Mr. Ben Shepherd and Miss Elizabeth McKinnell.

In a press release, the activists said their visit to the British FCO “…was to express grave concern about the defective manner in which President Museveni’s government has been running the electoral processes”.  Most Ugandans, they said, “…do not believe that the current Electoral Commission will deliver free and fair elections…the opposition political parties were convinced that the coming elections were already rigged”.

Among the documents the activists presented to the FCO was the recent Petition filed the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in the Constitutional Court seeking to bar the Electoral Commission and the government of Uganda from organising the elections.  The Constitutional Court has since dismissed that petition.

In spite of the court ruling however, the activists maintain that the issues raised in the Petition remain valid.  They include allegations of an inflated voters’ register, the training and deployment of pro-NRM paramilitary groups to intimidate voter, the bribing of MPs, the bribing of voters through the unilateral creation of new districts, and the continued indoctrination of Ugandans through the so-called Mchaka Mchaka.

The Ugandan delegation also explained to the FCO officials that Ugandans are very worried about the ill intentions and activities of the Special Forces Brigade commanded by President Museveni’s son Lt. Col. Muhoozi Keinerugaba.  As a result, the activists said, “…the frustrations and desperation of Ugandan citizens has reached boiling point.  Uganda is on the verge of a Popular People’s Revolt similar to that seen in Tunisia and Egypt”.

Other documents submitted to the FCO included newspaper excerpts which carried President Museveni’s recent declaration that, “…Uganda is not Tunisia or Egypt…it is a land of freedom fighters.  Nothing like that would be allowed in Uganda”.  The activists told the FCO that Museveni’s declaration was evidence of an implied order to Uganda’s security forces to clamp down on Ugandans who will dare rise up in protest against Museveni’s 25 year rule.

The Ugandan activists also told the FCO that President Museveni’s refusal to appoint a new, independent and unbiased Electoral Commission was evidence of his lack of confidence in his waning popularity across the country.  They said Museveni was no longer sure of getting the required 51% of the national vote to win outright.

In their response, the FCO officials said that “…the British government was engaged in an on-going dialogue with the Uganda government on various matters, including the controversy surrounding the Electoral Commission, and on the alleged restrictions”.

The FCO officials also said “…the British Government has made clear to the Ugandan Government the importance that they attach to a free and fair electoral process, and provided technical support to key institutions including the Electoral Commission, police, and major political parties”.

Crucially however, the FCO officials revealed to the Ugandan delegation that, “…in the event of Tunisian and Egyptian type mass demonstrations, the British government would forcefully impress on Ugandan authorities the standard British view that violence against peaceful protestors is unacceptable.  The Ugandan people have a right to enjoy their freedom of expression and assembly”, the FCO said.

In a previous response to our story regarding British comments about Uganda’s forthcoming elections, NRM Spokesperson Mr. Ofwono Opondo told the British government that Uganda was no longer a British colony.

“…Firstly let everyone including the British Prime Minister, Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham, and Mr. Mike Hancock who is being used by a local Ugandan opposition political outfit know in clear terms that Uganda is no longer a colony of the British who ruled with fisted hands and no single democratic elections while exploiting our people and resources”, Ofwono Opondo charged.

He also called into question Britain’s competence and moral authority to lecture Ugandans and the world about good governance.  “…Those whose forefathers exploited Uganda are the least competent to lecture the world about good governance and a level playing field”, Ofwono Opondo declared.

The NRM spokesman also sought to reassure the world that the 2011 elections will be free and fair.  “…This election will be free and fair, and the winner will certainly be Ugandans through President Yoweri Museveni and NRM party.  We know it will be a tough campaign [and] we don’t under estimate our political opponents; particularly their mischievous intentions”, Opondo said.  END.  Please log into www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.