Forget fair elections in 2011: What next?
By John Stephen Katende
6th Sept 2010
Pre-ticked NRM ballots
If there is one thing that has come out clearly from Uganda Correspondent’s interviews with people on the streets of Kampala, then it’s that the violence and rigging that characterised NRM’s primaries is a sign of things to come.
Even the more seasoned political analysts who spoke to Uganda Correspondent couldn’t find valid reasons to pour cold water on the views expressed on the streets. The general fear is that similar or even worse violence and rigging will occur during the 2011 elections.
One political analyst who regularly comments on topical political issues in the Daily Monitor newspaper agreed with the street views but was also tight-lipped about what the solution to the looming political crisis should be. “Forget free and fair elections. Not under this government; never. The question is what is the alternative? I have my own radical proposals but they could land me in trouble with the regime. So I will keep them to myself”, he said.
In his email reply to Uganda Correspondent, this analyst also included a long list of negative headlines about the NRM’s recent primaries; all in an attempt to hammer his point home. If you read them all, then you actually see why most people paint a gloomy picture of the NRM’s political will and ability to organise free and fair elections. Just take a look for yourself:
“Chaos mars Nebbi NRM polls, 21 held in poll violence, Hoima MP still held, Mubende results cancelled, Electoral registrar, LC3 Chief arrested over electoral malpractices, Petitions flood NRM electoral offices, Kween NRM losers want results nullified, MP accused of destroying votes, Agents arrested over failure to deliver results, Kayunga district registrar blamed for polls malpractice, Minister Otaala declares his own victory, Ballot materials disappear in Sembabule, Protests as Jinja results are delayed, Candidates threaten to boycott polls”.
Dr. Nsaba Buturo, the regime’s own Minister of Ethics and Integrity no less, summed it all up beautifully when he said, “…we are asking for a re-run because it was outright theft. The electoral process was hijacked by individuals and candidates were getting electoral materials from their homes”.
Dr. Buturo’s demand for a re-run of the election had apparently been triggered by a controversial declaration by the presiding NRM returning officer that he [Buturo] had lost the Bufumbira East constituency NRM flag bearer contest to Mr Eddie Kwizera Wa-Gahungu.
The Daily Monitor newspaper reported last week that some NRM electoral officials in Tororo had even abandoned their offices to escape angry supporters of various candidates who had camped at the NRM poll centre demanding for a declaration of results. Ms Catherine Etoori, one of the NRM officials, is reported to have fled to Eldoret in Kenya. Her colleague Mr Joseph Kadoketch was also reported to be in hiding. Incredible stuff!
But even more incredible is the fact that the NRM government still has the audacity to re-assure the country that the 2011 elections will be free, fair, and peaceful. “The systems in place will help us have free, fair, violence-free polls come 2011”, Information Minister Kabakumba Masiko said. She further added that “…anyone caught causing chaos will be dealt with as the laws of the country stipulates”.
A London based Ugandan who called into an internet radio hosted on www.musevenimustgo.com not only agreed with the political analyst quoted in this report, he went further and suggested the thorny alternative that the analyst clearly didn’t want to talk about.
“Ugandans should stop thinking that Museveni can ever allow free and fair elections to take place. He knows that if he does, he will be history. We must painfully accept that Museveni will only go the way he came”, he said.
The implied suggestion there, obviously, being that Ugandans must now find alternative ways [including an armed struggle if need be] of fighting for their democratic rights and freedoms! Only time will tell if Ugandans will heed his call. END. If it’s Monday, it’s Uganda Correspondent. Never miss out again!
