Uganda Communications Commission – Public Notice: “Warning Against Irresponsible Use of Social and Electronic Communication Platforms” (14.09.2017)

FDC – Press Statement: Democracy on Trial – The Results of the Presidential Elections must be rejected (20.02.2016)

Final Presidential Results – President Museveni declared for his “official” 5th term

“I declare Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who attained the highest number of votes as a duly elected President of the Republic of Uganda” – Badru M. Kiggundu.

“The commission declares candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the elected President of Uganda this 20/Feb/2016 – Kiggundu” (NTV Uganda 20.02.2016).

“FINAL RESULTS:

Abed Bwanika 0.93%

Prof. Baryamureeba 0.55%

Gen.Biraaro 0.27%

Dr. Kizza Besigye 35.37%

Joseph Mabirizi 0.26%

Maureen Kyalya 0.44%

Amama Mbabazi  1.23%

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni 60.75 5%” (NTV Uganda, 20.02.2016).

“Electoral Commission Chairperson Eng. Badru Kiggundu has declared NRM’s Candidate Yoweri Museveni winner of the 2016 Presidential Election!!!!! According to EC’s Kiggundu, Museveni scored 60.75%. As Kizza Besigye Wrn. scored 35.5%” (Hello Uganda, 20.02.2016).

And there was total silence when the result was delivered, only “three people clapping” after the result was delivered. This here is proof of the silence of the result. I don’t expect the result to be served in the public like it was in 1996. AS the military and roadblocks shuts down the Kampala and the tension in the country is still strong! Peace.

 

Press Release: Uganda -Blanket ban on social media on election day is disproportionate (18.02.2016)

ARTICLE 19 is deeply concerned by the decision by the Uganda Communications Commission to block access to social media while millions of Ugandans head to the polls on election day.

This morning, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) blocked social media sites. UCC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Fred Otunnu cited “national security” and that the platforms were being “used to campaign on voting day”. He added that Uganda Electoral Commission had complained about alleged online campaigns that were continuing after 16 February, when all election campaigning was required to cease.

Henry Maina, Regional Director of ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa explained that “this ban on social media platforms is part of a number pervasive systemic measures by the government of Uganda to limit freedom of expression and access to information during the election period. Blanket bans on social media cannot be justified under international law and are wholly disproportionate.”

“At a time when the world’s gaze is on Uganda and the Presidential elections, we call on the Ugandan authorities to immediately revoke the blocking of social media and allow Ugandans to exercise their right to freedom of expression, as well as their right to participate in a free and open election process,” added Maina

Press Statement: Uganda Youth Platform on the rampant arbitirary arrests and torture of youth in Uganda by regime agents and rouge NRM Supporters (10.12.2015)

Uganda Youth Platform (UYP) and other youth organizations in the country wish to bring to the attention of the people of Uganda the prevailing abuse of our rights, arbitrary arrests, torture and other unbelievable acts of injustice the government is committing against us.

The regime in power abducts, arrests, threatens death, detains, tortures and imprisons innocent youth with an aim of forcing them to work for and support NRM and intimidate the youth so that they do not speak up. Many youth have even lost their lives and properties. Recently Salongo Mawejje’s head was severed and has not been found. Youth in Sebambule, Butaleja, Lira, Kumi, Masaka, Mbarara, Gulu, Wakiso, Mbale, Mubende, etc are being intimidated, languishing in jails and many have lost property and hope.

Of recent, Jude Nkoyoyo the General Secretary of Uganda Youth Platform was inhumanly arrested, detained in an illegal location, accused of tramped up charges. His home was raided, property confiscated and destroyed. He was denied a fair hearing in time. His life will never be the same again. The second case is of Waidhuba John, Coordinator Eastern Region. He survived a staged road accident. The tormentors ran away on a motorcycle. His home was raided. The third case is of Ewau Godfrey, the PRO of Uganda Youth Platform. He was abducted by elements from Flying Squad and detained at a facility operated by Special Forces Command. He was tortured, a hood tied over bis head, abused etc. Others are being threatened such as Brian Obiga, Chairperson of Uganda Youth Platform and Coordinator Northern Region. Mulani Rockefeller, the Assistant Coordinator UYP Mubende was also arrested, detained, tortured and forced to work for and support NRM, President Museveni.

Other youth who have been arrested from different parts of the country and tortured under hands of regime agents are: Payira Bonney, Okot Thomas, Otim Sparraw, Winnie Nakajjubi, Norman Tumuhibise, Okure Nathan, Okia Constant, Aguda Moses, Nsubuga, Nuwagaba Christopher Ojobile and hundreds of other youths. There is now an atmosphere of fear for their lives.

Thousands of youth are being rounded up daily and taken to jails and safe houses under the guise of being idle and disorderly. How can someone be disordely or idle at his home? That they are loitring in the city and towns. How can a government that is not creating jobs arrest people for nor working? If the youth dont come to towns to look for work, how are they expected to eat and pay rent and feed their families?
We understand that government fears the youth that they engage in civil disobedience so it prefers to keep rounding us up and throw us in unknown places. But there are 30 million youths! Where will they detain 30 million of us?

It’s therefore, upon us to either accept and surrender to these unjust acts forever, or join hands and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Fellow youth of Uganda, our generation is now a lost generation because of the increasing and un-ending injustices committed against us.

We, as Uganda Youth Platform (UYP) wish to remind you that it’s our constitutional duty to be actively involved at all levels of our country’s governance. UYP as a legal civic network of all youth in Uganda calls upon Ugandans and international community to condemn such dictatorial acts. We aim to have a new government that will cater for our needs.

We want the Uganda Human Rights Commission to get interested in these cases of human rights abuse and also the Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Police to tell the country whether these actions are officially sanctioned actions since those carrying them out come from the institutions they lead.

We demand that all Presidential candidates address themselves to this issue of security for the youth and condemn these acts of thuggery by state agents.

We shall not surrender, we shall not waver, we shall struggle on.

For God and my Country

Yours in the Struggle,
Uganda Youth Platform
Obiga Brian – National Chairperson
Nkoyoyo Jude – General Secretary
Waidhuba John – General Treasurer
Ewau Godfrey – Public Relations Officer /PRO
All Coordinators and members of Uganda Youth Platform countrywide
Ugandan Youth the Future Lies in Our Hands

Uganda – Statement by the Chairperson, Electoral Commission at the Closure of the Presidential Nomination Exercise – 2016 General Elections (04.11.2015)

Ref: ADM72/01 – The Republic of Uganda – The Electoral Commission:

The Electoral Commission appointed 3^rd and 4^th November 2015 as dates for the nomination of candidates for the 2016 Presidential Elections. There were forty eight (48) persons who picked Nomination Forms for Presidential Elections. Twelve (12) persons/parties returned the Forms to the Commission for verification. The nomination exercise which commenced yesterday Tuesday 3^rd November 2015, has been concluded today, Wednesday, 4th November 2015, and the following have been successfully nominated as candidates

No	Nominated candidate	Political party/Organisation	Symbol
1.	Yoweri Museveni Kaguta	National Resistance Movement	Party Symbol
2	Amama Mbabazi	Independent	Chair
3	Baryamureeba Venansius	Independent	Clock
4	Besigye Kizza Kifefe	Forum for Democratic Change	Party Symbol
5	Abed Bwanika	Peoples’ Development Party	Party Symbol
6	Mabirizi Joseph	Independent	Ball
7	Maureen Faith Kyalya Waluube	Independent	Pot
8	Biraaro Buta Benon	Farmers Party of Uganda	Party Symbol

 

One of the presidential aspirants, Mr. Bbaale Charles Lwanga (Ecological Party of Uganda) presented himself to the Electoral Commission but did not satisfy the requirements for nomination as a candidate for the Presidential Elections, 2016.

Another Presidential aspirant, Hajji Nasser Ntege Sebagala, who had picked nomination papers, complied with the provisions of Section 10(1)(b) and (3), of the Presidential Elections Act 2005 (as amended) on supporters for the nomination, and booked nomination date and time did not turn up for nomination as required by the law.

The Commission congratulates all those candidates who have been successfully nominated and wishes them the best as they go out to campaign and solicit for votes from the electorate.

The Electoral Commission wishes to emphasise the following: 

The Electoral Commission has appointed the period 4th – 9th November 2015 as the period for inspection of nomination papers for candidates contesting for Presidential Elections 2016.

The inspection of nomination papers will be held at the Office of the Chairperson, Electoral Commission, who is the Returning Officer for the Presidential Elections, during office hours.

During this period, any person will be free to raise objection, to the qualification of a nominated candidate, to the Chairperson, Electoral Commission/Returning Officer, at the Electoral Commission Headquarters in Kampala.

No complaints shall be accepted after the expiry of the appointed dates.

Meeting for Harmonisation of Campaign Programme 

The Electoral Commission will hold a meeting with all the nominated candidates and/or their agents on Thursday 5th – Sunday 8th November 2015, at the Electoral Commission Boardroom, at 10:00am, to harmonise the campaign programme.

After harmonisation of the campaign programme, candidates will be expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), calling for compliance with the campaign guidelines and programme, to achieve peaceful campaigns and elections.

The Commission wishes to appreciate the following who have made the nomination exercise a success:

1. The National Organisation Committee (NOC);
2. The aspirants, their families and delegations;
3. Protocol team, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Associates;
4. Security, particularly the Uganda Police Force;
5. The Management of Mandela National Stadium, Namboole;
6. Uganda Red Cross Society, and St. John Ambulance;
7. Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA);
8. Development Partners (IFES, DGF, British High Commission, and others);
9. Always Be Tolerant (ABETO)
10. Service providers;
11. National and International media;
12. National and international observers;
13. And in a special way, the entire Electoral Commission family.

Finally, the Commission announces the Polling day for Presidential/Parliamentary elections being Thursday, 18th February, 2016.

Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu

Chairperson, Electoral Commission/Returning Officer, Presidential Elections

Ugandan Electoral Commission: Press Statement – Extention of Date of Nomination of Candidates for Presidential Elections (02.010.2015)