We are not a British colony, govt tells Britain off
By Timothy Nsubuga
1st Nov 2010
Mr. Ofwono Opondo
The ruling NRM government has attacked the British government over what it called “misplaced concerns” about the unevenness of the 2011 political playing field.
In his reaction to a story published by Uganda Correspondent under the title “unfair 2011 playing field worries British govt” on 1st Nov, the NRM’s 2011 election task force spokesperson Mr. Ofwono Opondo dismissed the British concerns as “misplaced”.
“…We in NRM have read and understood the misplaced concerns of some element in British politics particularly its House of Commons trying to impute without objective evidence that the 2011 general elections in Uganda may not be free and fair”, Mr. Opondo said.
The government spokesman also used the opportunity to resurrect the old ghosts and skeletons of colonialism that still lie uncomfortably between Britain and Uganda by telling the British government, and the British Prime Minister David Cameron in particular, that Uganda is 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.
He said the 2011 elections will be free and fair because it is the first election since 1980 to be held under a totally peaceful and stable atmosphere. He added that it will also be the first time Uganda is running a fairly independent budget funded largely from local revenue collection. And because of that, Opondo said, “…the electoral commission, police and other support services will be better facilitated and in time”.
He also said state institutions are now strong enough to deal with anybody trying to subvert the due process of law before, during and after elections and added that the “…polling system is quite transparent from voting, counting, tallying and declaration of results in full view and presence of the voters and members of the public who choose to stay around the polling stations”.
The cries of foul play, Mr. Ofwono Opondo said, are “…simply an excuse by opposition groups because they know Museveni will perform even much better than in 2006”.
He also predicted that Museveni will win by more than 50% and in the first round. END. Please log into www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
