The 1996 election and the 2016 elections; staggering similarities of government party and actions towards the opposition! The difference now is Besigye VS M7; then it was Ssemogerere VS M7!

1996 Museveni Sworn in Ceremony

As President Museveni lost with no swagger in 1980 he later returned twice with armies to become the president in 1986. The 1986 where NRA took the power; that story knows all of Uganda well; what Uganda has forgotten is the tactics and ways of rigging the elections of 1996. Even Dr. Kizza Besigye was ready for somebody else in 1996. That says something as the NRM tactics was using levels of fear and tell the general public: “if you vote for somebody else then the Obote-Dictatorship will return!” There is something wrong with that picture as this should be the ushering of democratic values that was installed and promised in the 10 Point Program from President Museveni. This was also the Election that ushered in the Universal Primary Election (UPE) while has done certain things with educations and spreading schools around the country, after many years to many of them has been neglected and has shown that the promise and reform was easier then actually achieving quality school education under the NRM-Regime.

The democratic values and fair elections were not achieved in 1996. As the countless reforms says. The Western nations and International Organizations accepted the result as a positive move for Uganda, even with the malpractices and also because still at this time the world saw President Museveni as the new breed of leadership. He would go away from all the things he might have built later in his presidential career. 1996 Elections was “No-Party” election with a new Interim Electoral Commission who was far from impartial. Kind of what the Electoral Commission proves without any subtlety in today’s election climate.

Besigye against Museveni candidature in 1996:

“Though Besigye was a National Political Commissar, minister and Museveni confidant, by 1996 – as his 1995 decision, and that of other officers like  now Lt. Gen. David Tinyefuza and the late Lt. Col. Serwanga Lwanga to oppose entrenching the Movement’s monopoly of power in the constitution and the  near-banning of political parties – the differences were public” (…)”However, it has now emerged that Besigye and other people in the NRM and army  in 1996 were opposed to Museveni running as the Movement presidential  candidate” (…)”In 1996 Besigye relented at the last minute to go and campaign for Museveni in Rukungiri. He appeared at no more than two rallies, and spoke at one. The very personal and acrimonious face off between the two men last year therefore arose from a feud that had been simmering for about 10 years” (COO, 2002).

Ssemogerere Manifesto

How not to vote for Ssemogerere:

“The Constant refrain during Museveni’s 1996 presidential campaign was that a vote for his opponents would cause a return to the past, the former dictator Milton Obote was waiting in Zambia to return to power if Museveni was defeated. One of Museveni’s presidential election poster featured a picture of skulls and bones besides a mass grave in Luwero with the caption: “Don’t forget the past. Over one million Ugandans, our brothers, sisters, family and friends, lost their lives. YOUR VOTE COULD BRING IT BACK”; another campaign advertisement stated bluntly: “A vote for Ssemogerere is a vote for Obote” (Bouckaer, 1999).

How the sentiment was during the campaign:

“Ssemogerere seems to have hugely underestimated the depth of fear and hatred for Obote and his party among the majority of Buganda. Virtually everyone interviewed  who had voted for Museveni emphasized that they had voted in part to avoid any chance of a return to the violence and anarchy of the early 1980s. The effect of Ssemogerere alliance with UPC, however, does not seem to have been intimidating. Most people felt shift in sentiment against Ssemogerere in the last two months prior to the election. The Museveni campaign strategy of increasingly emphasizing the UPC and Obote connection towards the end of the campaign period was felt to been effective” (IFES, 1996).

Hon Ssemogerere in Northern Uganda campaigning

Museveni used the laws to stifle Ssemogerere campaign:

“The Ssemogerere camp tried to set up branches in the country. This ran foul of the law against setting up party structures. The police constantly frustrated this method of trying to reach the voters. There was a simpler and more effective method used by the Museveni camp. It is simply to announce campaign task forces and groups for given locations. While Ssemogerere was attempting to organise by “structure”, Museveni was organising by “process”. The former violated the existing law; the latter did not. The task force approach recognises the criticality of patrons who mediate the delivery of the votes of their peasant flock. In this approach it is not direct contact with voters, which is not feasible in backward areas with all forms of barriers (language), but contact with the patrons who go through lesser nested patrons to reach the final voters. Yoweri Museveni set up a more effective patron–client campaign network than Ssemogerere’s party structure approach” (Kotorobo, 2000).

How it ended:

“Hours after the Interim Electoral Commission (IEC) led by Stephen Akabway had announced provisional results on May 10; the IPFC candidate Ssemogerere dismissed them as false at a press conference at IPFC headquarters in Kabusu, Kampala. Ssemogerere said: “I cannot accept these results as valid”. The New Vision, The Monitor, as well as the Crusader newspapers of the following day, quoted him as having said. “I have been a patient person in public life. I thought this was the best thing for this country. I have spent time with people I don’t agree with for the sake of democracy. I have not known time before or after independence, when people of different political beliefs, religions and nationalities have come together for once. Now all this has been shattered by the stubbornness of [Yoweri Museveni] wanting to cling to power,” he added. During the press conference, Ssemogerere also revealed 54 cases of malpractices recorded by DP across the country. The 64-year-old DP stalwart said rigging of votes included intimidation of voters by the State, use of pre-ticked ballot papers, use of fake voter’s cards and doctored voter registers” (Mugabe, 2016).

Questionable freedom of speech during the 1996 campaign:

“The Government controls one television station and the radio station with the largest audience. There are three local television stations, three local radio stations, and five stations available by satellite. Uncensored Internet access became widely available through three commercial service providers in major cities, although its price was prohibitive for all but the most affluent noninstitutional users. Freedom of speech did not fare well in the context of the transition to constitutional government, including the presidential and parliamentary elections. Guidelines imposed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs prevented members of the former constituent assembly from addressing groups outside their constituencies. Electoral rules prohibited “campaigning” by presidential challengers until the official start of the campaign 39 days before the election. However, in their official capacity, President Museveni and senior members of the Government were free to travel throughout the country for months prior to the election. Rallies in support of all three presidential candidates suffered varying levels of harassment from thugs, in some cases resulting in physical injuries. It appeared, however, that such incidents were particularly directed at President Museveni’s opponents. Yusef Nsubuga Nsambu, a leader of the Conservative party and a supporter of presidential challenger Dr. Paul Ssemogerere, was arrested in May and charged with sedition for his unflattering descriptions of President Museveni. He was released unharmed 2 days later” (U.S. Department of State, 1997).

Celebrating the victory:

“KAMPALA, UGANDA — Thousands of President Yoweri Museveni’s supporters drove through the capital honking car horns and chanting “No change” Saturday to celebrate his first electoral victory” (…)”When Museveni was declared the winner on national radio Saturday, tens of thousands of his supporters poured onto Kampala’s streets, chanting “No change” in the local Luganda language, blasting car horns, and waving branches and flags” (Bashor, 1996).

One reason why he won the 1996 Election:

“Not all NRM successes showed the system’s popularity. The government manipulated small constituencies to gain beholden candidates in many special interest seats created by the 1995 constitution for women, youth, workers, the disabled and the army” (ICG, 2012).

Ssemogerere Museveni

Reports of malfunctions during the 1996 elections:

““The election drew a lower turnout than expected and suffered some logistical problems, but Ugandans generally avoided widely feared violence” (…)“Many of the country’s 8.4 million voters stayed away from the polls, and in many districts, turnout hovered around 50 percent. Logistical problems also hampered voting. At numerous polling stations, Ugandans complained that their names were not on the list of registered voters. “We have waited for hours, and we cannot vote,” said Patrick Nuwgaba, 20, surrounded by about 20 people who said they had been barred from voting. “We have our voter cards, but they say the numbers we have don’t match the numbers they have for us.” Despite those problems, calm prevailed around the country. Election observers reported, however, that in some pro-Museveni districts, especially in western Uganda, Ssemogerere backers had difficulty voting because of hostile crowds” (Buckley, 1996).

Questions about the victory:

”Within 24-hours of voting — and while the ballot papers were still being counted — the Inter Political Forces Cooperation (IPFC) backing the main opposition candidate Ssemogerere, announced that the constitutionally imposed “no-party” elections had been rigged” (…)”We have left it up to individuals to decide whether to stand,” Ssemogerere told IPS. “The electoral process is wrong and its going to be wrong again. If anyone stands they should know it will be with those disadvantages.” (…)”The IPFC’s compromise decision was reminiscent for some people of the 1980 elections in which the UPC are widely believed to have cheated the DP of victory — leaving Ssemogerere open to accusations of legitimising the government when he then took up position as leader of the opposition” (…)”Museveni was backed by, and represented his Movement “no- party” system of government while Ssemogerere was supported by the DP and UPC alliance and represented a return to multi-party politics — a return which would have required a change to the constitution” (Bozello, 1996).

m7, besigye

As we see about this Dr. Kizza Besigye and other opposition candidates get the same treatment that Dr. Paul Ssemogerere of Democratic Party in 1996. The vote-rigging, the issues with meeting people, with consulting the party members in the districts, the time for campaigning which apparently happens also before the pre-election period in Uganda in 2015. President Museveni doesn’t only recycle pledges his Police acts similar in 2015 as in 1996. That should be thought of as he talks of that the Movement brings progress. If progress means the same structure that doesn’t offer people freedom or liberty to discuss politics. Then it is NRM for you tomorrow. As the 1996 experience shows; there is a multi-party elections tomorrow, but the signs of 1996 looks strikingly similar, and the Police Force and Governmental institutions is structured to facilitate for the ruling party and funding his campaign while the opposition struggles with unleveled campaigning field that has been all through to the 18th Feburary polls. There is a certainty that Dr. Kizza Besigye has used smarter tactics than Dr. Paul Ssemogerere, but them both has fought the same monster which used the same style of campaigning in 2015-2016 as before the 1996, as he then gave 40 days campaigning as the districts was less, and the same now to the other candidates.

The fear used to intimidate candidates has been used in 2016. As even the security outfits has been deployed and both the army and Special Forces Command; they have been there following opposition and the police has target their trail as the Electoral Commission has given okay to their campaign trail in the start of the campaign in November 2015. This here shows the levels of fear and strong militarized politics that President Museveni feeds on; that has occurred through the whole campaign in the same way it did in 1996. That 2016 and 1996 looks so alike is staggering. The names of the other “actors” are different, but the end-game is the same. Though we hope that the people who are ready for change will see it as the old-man with the hat will do what he can to keep power; even if the people are ready for something else then his empty promises. Peace.

Reference:

Bashor, Richard – ‘In First Direct Election Since ’62, President Wins Overwhelmingly’ (12.05.1996) – Chicago Tribune.

Bouckaer, Peter – ‘Hostile to Democracy: The Movement System and Political Repression in Uganda’ (August 1999).

Borzello, Anna – ‘UGANDA-POLITICS: ‘Where-To-Now’ Conundrum For Opposition’ (16.05.1996) – Inter Press Service

Buckley, Stephen – ‘INCUMBENT LIKELY WINNER IN UGANDAN PRESIDENTIAL VOTE’ (11.05.1996) – Washington Post

Katorobo, James – ‘The Uganda Presidential and Parliamentary Elections 1996’ (2000)

Mugabe, Faustin – ‘How free and fair was the Uganda 1996 election after 10 years of rule by the political party of the National Resistance Movement?’ (30.01.2016).

International Crisis Group (ICG) – ‘UGANDA: NO RESOLUTION TO GROWING TENSIONS’ (05.04.2012).

International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) – ‘Uganda: Long Term Observation of 1996 Presidential and Legislative Election (May-July 1996).

Onyango-Obbo, Charles (COO) – ‘Besigye Opposed Museveni’s Bid in 1996, And Set Off Movt Demons’ (15.12.2002) – Daily Monitor

U.S. Department of State – ‘Uganda Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1996’ Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, (January 30, 1997).

Press Statement: Uganda Law Society extends its best wishes to all Ugandans who on the 18th February 2016 will go to the polls! (17.02.2016)

ULS Press Release 17.02.2016

Cord Leader Raila Odinga appeals for free and fair elections in Uganda (Youtube-Clip)

Cord leader Raila Odinga is appealing for a free and fair election in Uganda .in a statement Raila says the election is key to the future of a country that is strengthening the ideals of a democracy: he has appealed to the government and the electoral authorities to ensure a level playing that makes it easy and possible for all voters to cast the ballot. Raila has urged security agencies need to support the process and ensure it is free of intimidation. Uganda heads to the elections tomorrow with opposition leader Kizza Besigye looking to un-sit Yoweri Museveni who has been in power since 1986″ (KTN News Kenya, 2016)

FDC Supporters detained at Wandegya Police Station and sent to Luzira; The Calvary shows loyalty to NRM on the final day before the Polls!

FDC Supporters Detained Kampala 17.02.2016

Police are rounding up our supporters in Kampala at Wandegeya Police Station and taken straight to court and jailed. I only see Hon Nabilah Nagayi Sempala fighting for their freedom but not us. We need to amplify this. Those are voters and police will lock many to deny them chance to vote!

FDC Supporters Detained Kampala 17.02.2016. P2

Hon. Nagayi Sempala written this:

“Happening now at Kagugube Court near LDC! Our FDC youth who are being rounded up are being taken to Luzira! The military and police are coordinating this! Let’s fight on! The intention is to intimidate, frustrate and break the people’s resolve to fight for democracy tomorrow”.

This here is election-rigging at it’s finest. Rounding up and spreading fear for affiliation with the wrong political party; getting detained for beeing political in the wrong party. If the NRM call this a peaceful election they are lying to the world as they are not giving peace to anybody else then themselves; as the FDC supporters getting jailed 24 hours before the polls begins. That is just a BITCH move from the NRM-Regime and their Police Force! As this can’t not be addressed and be shunned. All the Election Observation Missions and the International presens does not stop the disregard for other political stances then standing by the side of President Museveni. As this Young people who! Peace.

A Red Cross Ambulance passed by the victim who was shot in Kampala yesterday; Tragic footage!

A red Cross ambulance arrived at the scene when Kwesiga Elias was reportedly still alive, stopped briefly nearby and proceeded without pickibg the gunshot victim. Kwesiga was shot by Police as they dispersed opposition leader Dr Besigye’s procession in Wandegeya yesterday!

Uganda election Hospital conditions exposed by opposition – BBC News – (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzjp7A0-9nU

“Uganda holds an election this Thursday and President Yoweri Museveni’s 30 years in power is at stake. One major issue is healthcare and whether the President has done enough after opposition leader, Kizza Besigne exposed the condition of the medical system. Catherine Byaruhanga reports.” (BBC News).

FDC demonstrate in Mbale today!

Mbale 16.02.2016 P1

As the public gotten the news the people reacts to the arrest and violence of yesterday, even in outside of Kampala. The Forum for Democratic Change has reacted in Mbale. There the people has gone to the streets and demonstrated at the actions of the Police yesterday. Arresting their leaders; because of that they went into the central streets and around the Clock Tower. Where the Police later came with tear-gas and dispersing the crowds as they have done so diligently under the NRM-Regime! The Demonstrations started to get more heated as the Police arrested more and more FDC Supporters. As the Regional Police Commander James Ruweza is in charge of the detail and taking charge in Mbale; as surpressing the citizens in the town. The People also stormed the Central Police Station, before the boiling took over the town.

As the Police went in on the demonstration in the towns as the pictures show!

Mbale 16.02.2016 P2

Hon. Jack Wamanga  Wamai trying to calm down the rioters in Mbalè!

Mbale 16.02.2016 P3

Eye witness:

Mbale has started boiling. It is hot. The police has blocked FDCsupporters from trekking through the city. This has led to a jam at the Clock Tower”.

As more stories came forward the people reacted to the tear-gas that hurt most eyes of the FDC people in the streets. The good news is the hurt and detained FDC supporters in town that earlier got arrested got released by the Police. Even the good news it is still worrying: how the Police controls the public in a way that makes it violent, instead of creating a peaceful atmosphere as the Police does not respect the public and democratic actions as the crack-down on public meetings and public gatherings as a reactions to the violent conduct of the Police in Kampala. That is the reason why the FDC Mbale chapter went to the streets and Republic Street today to demonstrate. Peace.

NO REGRETS : Uganda Police says “they will not hesitate re-arresting Besigye” (Youtube-Clip)

“Police has maintained it won’t hesitate arresting opposition leader Col Kiiza Besigye if he insists causing commotion in the city center. This is in response to the preventive arrest that police applied on him this morning when he insisted that he was driving to the city center with out notifying the police. Police publicist says this was un-called for and this forced the police to arrest him” (WBS TV, 2016).

Reports from the last Campaign Trail of the FDC in Nakawa Division, Kampala; As the Police block the enterance of Kyambogo for Boda-Boda’s and more!

Kyambogo 16.02.2016

On hearing that Kizza Besigye is to hold his first rally at Kyambogo university play ground in Kakawa Division -Kampala today, all gets leading in side the university have been closed. No boda Boda is allowed to enter the university premises, Nobody is allowed to enter without an identification. When i asked the police man manning the gate he said that the OC in charge of police at the university has instructed him not to allow any politician to enter. Yesterday Dr. Kizza Besigye was denied access to Makerere university where he was expected to address thousands of students .

Ntinda to Kyambogo 16.02.2016

The Police has also been stationed at the Kisaasi Round-about to locate the public who want to attend the FDC Convoy and Dr. Kizza Besigye rally at Kyambogo! On their way from Ntinda – through Kabaka Road to Kyambogo, Besigye‘s Mobile crowd has been moving for close to 30 minutes and still counting from one spot. Some are using Kaduuyu road via Foxwoods.

Other reports is that People are rejecting to join in the rallies of the President Museveni in Kololo as they don’t want to be a part of the actions there. As many waits for the rallies of Dr. Kizza Besigye in other parts of the City.

Old Taxi Park 16.02.2016

Also there been huge running numbers of people has been seen around the Old Taxi Park in Central Kampala as they try to hike taxis and buses to the villages up-country; as the history repeats itself! Peace.

Dr. Kizza Besigye’s Press Statement earlier on today (16.02.2016)

NBS Besigye 16.02.2016

FDC Press Statement 16.02. P1FDC Press Statement 16.02. P2FDC Press Statement 16.02. P3FDC Press Statement 16.02. P4FDC Press Statement 16.02. P5

The Campaign Rallies today:

Press Release FDC 16.02.2016 FDC Route