ELECTION INTEGRITY
A couple
of days ago, both the Daily Monitor and the Observer wrote moving editorials
highlighting the paradoxes shrouding the integrity of the 2016 elections. In
both editorials, the papers questioned the intended silence of the Electoral
Commission at the time when all the three leading contenders for the
Presidential race are pointing fingers at each other for planning to rig
elections.
The
history of elections in Uganda is fraught with allegations of vote rigging, and
instances where election fraud and all sorts of malpractices have been profound.
And yet, somehow, the EC, whose primacy is to provide a legitimate and credible
elections seems unfazed by these staggering concerns.
This
silence, either by omission or commission, has compounded on the unresolved
apathy or escalated the chronic skepticism that electorates have developed
towards elections in Uganda.
That aside,
since 2001, the Opposition candidates have complained that rigging of elections
have been done to the benefit of the incumbent. At various stages, both independent
Presidential candidates, Hon. Amama Mbabazi and Prof Venasius Baryamureeba have
attested that vote rigging takes place in computers in Kampala. In fact, Gen
David Sejusa, who himself was part of the vote rigging system attested while in
London that a coterie of intelligence operatives alter vote results in
computers from a designated operation rooms at Basiima House, in Kampala.
While in
Mbale, Hon. Amama Mbabazi assured his mammoth audience that they should not be
worried much about election rigging in Kampala. He directed them to ensure that
they cast their ballots and protect the votes to ensure that they were
correctly counted and transmitted. Mr. Mbabazi is on record, assuring his
audience that they should let him, Hon Mbabazi, take care of what transpires in
the computers in Kampala. Anyone can review these utterances on YouTube for
confirmation.
This,
precisely, is the reason that the country and those who watched the first
televised Presidential Campaigns, where utterly shocked at the contradiction of
Mr. Mbabazi in denying any knowledge or practices of vote rigging. When the FDC
flag bearer, and Presidential Candidate, Col (Rtd). Dr. Kiiza Besigye posed the
question whether Mr. Mbabazi was aware of vote rigging and what he thought about
it, to our consternation, Mr. Mbabazi flatly denied any knowledge of such
practices!
This
incidence is of utmost importance for those who are running around the country
preaching that Hon. Mbabazi is a reliable person whereas he is not. For me, he
failed my test by contradicting himself on such an obvious and yet also a very
crucial determinant of the credibility of NRM organized elections.
Mr.
Mbabazi has been aloof on many fronts and he finds no remorse in acting
innocent. Take for instance when he was confronted by the lived reality of two
ordinary Ugandan families in Bwiita-Nakabale Village in Namutamba District. All
that Mr. Mbabazi could ask was “Is this how people live?” (Observer, Jan 20,
2016).
It is
such traits of dishonesty which worries me that when entrusted with power, Mr.
Mbabazi will continue with the same duplicitousness, characteristic of the NRM.
They have lied to themselves and to the nation so much that they act shocked when
confronted with reality. I only wish that President Museveni could get off his
high horse to be confronted by the sorry state of the common man in villages
and rural communities as it was with Mr. Mbabazi.
So, when
a section of the elite population accuse Dr Besigye of not being able to
effectively protect his votes so as to transform the mass support he enjoys in
the country side into victory, the answer is obvious. Dealing with mindlessly
dishonest operators of the State is a complex affairs. However, vote rigging
and the integrity of elections in this country have become even a complex
phenomenon that Dr. Besigye alone cannot solve. The defiance noncompliance
campaign is asking all of you to come out in large numbers to do your part.
It is
your part which is lacking!
END
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