Ugandan Elections: How Museveni Killed Democracy (Youtube-Clip)

“This week on KIRWA, President Yoweri Museveni once again rigged the election in Uganda, declaring himself the elected president for the 5th time” (Kirwa, 2016).

Press Statement: Interparty Youth Platform calls for Peace and Calm (01.03.2016)

IPYP 01.03.2016 P1IPYP 01.03.2016 P2

NBS Reporter Bahati Remmy Under Arrest, Journalists Lash Out at Police (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmZMqFEpEkg

“Fellow Journalists lash out at police for man handling and unlawfully arresting Bahati Remmy at Kasangati Kizza Besigye’s residence” (NBS TV Uganda, 01.03.2016)

Besigye and Mbabazi to announce whether they will challenge poll outcome (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvdtQDhj-SA

“Uganda’s opposition leaders Kizza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi are expected to announce their decision on whether they will file their respective petitions at the Uganda Supreme Court challenging President Museveni’s win in the country’s 18th February poll” (…)”Besigye who has been held by Ugandan police nine times is still under house arrest at his home in Kasangati” (…)”The Ugandan opposition leader has protested his arrest saying a 2011 Kasangani Magistrate Court order still stands” (NTV Uganda, 01.03.2016).

Press Release: Social accountability vital for building trust in post-election Uganda (01.03.2016)

UGDebate16 Prayer

Development projects that pay greater attention to social accountability can improve citizen-state relations and trust in Uganda and other fragile countries, according to new research by International Alert.

The report, titled Making social accountability work: Promoting peaceful development in Uganda, evaluates  two large-scale development projects undertaken in Uganda and has been published following the recent elections in the country that have been undermined by widespread unrest and allegations of corruption.

The report states that development projects which build in transparency and accountability components can nurture more constructive government-community relations – vital for closing historical divides between citizens and state that fuelled the civil war in Uganda, and helping people feel they can influence change.

Richard Businge, Country Manager for International Alert in Uganda, said:

“Uganda is not alone in the region in experiencing tensions around presidential elections. It is vital that we avoid post-election violence of the kind seen in Burundi at present and in Kenya in 2008, which points to the urgent need to help more people participate in decision-making and ensure the government and development agencies respond to their concerns.”

An informant of one of the report’s case studies commented that people in northern Uganda had previously felt neglected and humiliated by the government, but relationships improved “quite tremendously” after the project integrated a social accountability component. Teaching communities conflict-management skills also empowered them to resolve more local disputes among themselves.

It was also found that accountability initiatives can help make communities more cohesive. For example, forming local groups to interact with the district government and give voice to local concerns is an effective way of improving citizen-state relations, laying stronger foundations for building mutual trust and understanding.

As well as being a critical component of development projects, the report reveals that technology can also amplify citizen voices and enable better information sharing, therefore strengthening social accountability.

Jo Robinson, Programme Officer on International Institutions at International Alert, author of Making social accountability worklead author of Making social accountability work, said:

“Online spaces can sometimes represent more open forums for discussion on state behaviour than those offline, allowing people to engage frankly in democratic debate not just during election time, but whenever decisions are being made which may affect their lives”.

The report findings will be presented at the World Bank Group Fragility, Conflict and Violence Forum in Washington DC on 1-3 March 2016 (website).

The research was based on two projects: Lakes Edward and Albert Fisheries Pilot Project (LEAF I), funded by the African Development Bank; and the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund Project (NUSAF II), funded by the World Bank.

Press Statement on the Post Election Environment in the in Rwenzori Region (29.02.2016)

Bundibugyo 27.02.2016

Rwenzori Consortium for Civic Competence (RWECO) & the members: Kali, Good Hope Foundation for Rural Development, Ride Africa and RICNET ere accredited as election observers during the Presidential and Parliamentary  on 18th Feb, 2016 & local council elections on 24th Feb. 2016. RWECO and her members deployed a team of 150 as short term observers and long term observers in Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge and Kasese districts of Western Uganda. RWECO also deployed online platform where comments from observers were remitted through  SMS and plotted on  http://hrcp.or.ug/main. From 17th Feb, to 28th Feb, 2016, 164 messages were verified and viewed on the online platform. We commend the Electoral commission that accredited RWECO and her members during the elections.

However, as Ruwenzori region based observers, we note with concern the post -election violence that ensured during and after the elections on 18th and 24th Feb. 2016.  RWECO condemns the post- election violence that were reported  between   18th -19th  Feb, 2016 at Kasese district Electoral Commission tally center at Kasese district Multi-purpose Hall, located in Nyakasanga, Kasese-Fort Portal Road.  RWECO also condemns the post- election violence that was observed and reported in Bundibugyo District between 24th -27th Feb, 2016 after the election of district chairpersons and district councilors. These acts are either driven by personal egos and not accepting the outcome of the elections. Uganda is a democratic country for which we embrace both national and international standards of election observations and democratic processes for which citizens should welcome the out- come of the electoral process.

We wish therefore to state that:

  1. All acts of post- election violence be condemned by all actors and Uganda Police take the necessary steps to ensure that peace prevails  in the region and country at large;
  2. RWECO and her members also appeals to the candidates who lost the elections to use peaceful and lawful means to address their demands not by inciting  violence in the community;
  3. We also appeal to all stakeholders including, Police, state organs, Religious leaders, Cultural leaders and the media to join hands and give the citizens a message of hope that beyond elections, there is a life to live;
  4. Police bring the perpetrators of post- election violence to face the law of the land.

Thank you

Jimmy Baluku Odyek
Coordinator

Monies, Guns and Tear-Gas enters the race for Western Youth MP Elections in Fort Portal

Fort Portal Youth 29.02.2016 P2

There is always interesting during the General Election in 2016. The Electoral Commission and the Government of Uganda or the NRM-Regime can’t make a genuine exercise. The reports are staggering. Here are some of them and even an footage.

Pre-Text:

“Over 800 youth delegates from western region are expected to take part in the youth elections slated for Monday 29. In this part of the country, polls will be held at Kagote SDA hall in Fort Portal municipality” (New Vision, 27.02.2016).

Eye-witness on the direct campaign:

“Supporters of Mwine Mpaka son to Minister Bright Rwamirama are pelting stones at supporters of Amanya Tumukunde son to Rt Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde. They are aspiring for western Mp seat here in Fort Portal. Voting is tomorrow. Only Chairperson, Secretary for Female and Finance secretary youth councils at sub county level are only legible to vote” (“28.02.2016).

Here is what has happen today:

“Western Region youth MP race turn chaotic after a man only identified as Buryo has been arrested in Fort Portal at Kagote SDA hall with a pistol. Has has been arrested. It is said he was under the instruction of a one Michael Katungi who went in to harass supporters of Independent candidate, Amanya Tumukunde” (Eagle Online, 29.02.2016).

Fort Portal Youth 29.02.2017

Updates from Fort portal: According to the one in charge of Youth elections, the regional Registrar “Candidates are to be nominated today at 10am, massive rally Campaigns are to be staged at 11am, voting at 01:30 The battle is between the son to Gen.Tumukunde, Amanya and the son to the minister of Agriculture Mwine Mpaka. All camps are 50%” (Fatwes Solutions, 29.02.2016).

There been reports from certain sources that two people have been hurt during the election as the Police and Army has taken control of the venue in Fort Portal!

Footage of the Yout Election in Fort Portal:

As the campaign and voting continues in the hall eyewitness report says this:

“Tear gas rocking at Kagote SDA hall, as the western youth MP elections is still going on”. The tear-gas happens while they are counting. There are rumors that Tumukunde is detained and arrested by now. But that is not confirmed.

A Side-note – on the MP as Alex Ruhunda:

“Our credible source revealed that Alex Ruhunda supplied, 1m to each polling station 64stations in the municipal, him and his agents bought a vote at 10k.which means at every polling station he bought 100votes” (Tooro News, 28.02.2016).

I think that is enough for today. Peace.

Elton Joseph Mabirizi Post-Election Statement (29.02.2016)

Mabirizi Debate16

Kampala, Monday February 29, 2016

I, Elton Joseph Mabirizi, independent presidential candidate and flag bearer of The Independent Coalition, TIC, congratulate the people of Uganda on turning up in large numbers to vote on February 18, 2016.

I salute the 23 former presidential aspirants who put Uganda first, and backed my candidature. Through their individual and collective effort, we were able to present our campaign messages and to receive votes from every single district of Uganda. We ran a very challenging campaign that lacked equipment and money. But we were efficient.

We completed the race with honor. We did not win the election. We instead proved ourselves as front line stakeholders in Uganda’s democratic struggle. It is in this capacity that I issue this statement. We are not spectators. TIC and I are actors, and will continue to be, in the struggle for true democracy, justice and the rule of law to be established in Uganda.

On February 20, 2016, the Chairman of the Electoral commission declared Mr. Yoweri Museveni winner of the 2016 presidential elections. This is a shame. Mr. Museveni did not win this election. Besides, Dr. Badru Kiggundu, as all reports from local and international observers have indicated, presided over an election that was neither free, fair not credible.

Our own records obtained from our agents countrywide and from our colleagues with whom we cooperated in vote protection attest to the sad fact that the results announced by Dr. Kiggundu were and are a deplorable forgery.

The Independent Coalition and I reject these results. We consequently demand the immediate resignation of Chairman Kiggundu and his commissioners.

Working with our colleagues and partners, we shall challenge this result using all constitutional means available to us, until the stolen victory is reversed and handed back to the true winner of this election. In doing so, we shall not allow ourselves to be intimidated, coerced or blackmailed.

The nation is at cross roads. Something must be done quickly.

NTV 20.02.2016

To manage the scandal that was committed by Dr. Kiggundu and to avert possible violence, we propose the following:

a) Annulment of the declaration of Mr. Museveni as winner

b) For the avoidance of doubt, a vote recount be conducted, as national demand, as there was no tallying worth its name at the national tally center at Nambole, but periodic announcements of forged results. Results from at least 1700 polling stations were selectively not tallied.

c) To save the country and petitioners from the huge expenses of a court petition whose outcome is not likely to be different from that of 2001 and 2006, we propose an out of court settlement that involves a public hearing on the conduct of the 2016 Presidential election, during which all evidence of electoral irregularities will be presented and analyzed.

d) To halt preparations for the swearing in of the winner that never was.

e) To seek interpretation and guidance from the constitutional court on the matter of the likely event that the public hearing may not have been complete by May 2016

f) Return of the Army to barracks and to substantially reduce the presence of other armed personnel from the streets and some villages, which has created an atmosphere of intimidation, fear and siege.

g) Release all persons arrested on election related offences. Many of these have not been produced in court. Those that are already remanded through the court system should be produced in court as soon as possible and granted court bond.

h) Immediately remove the siege on Dr. Kizza Besigye residence and to guarantee his right of free movement within Uganda and abroad.

i) Establish a Contact Group on the Post-Election Situation comprising at least two representatives from each presidential candidate’s camp, Uganda Police Force, other security agencies, civil society, faith communities and other stakeholders to take care of emerging conflicts and security issues on a daily basis, during this period of uncertainty.

j) The Elders Forum, Inter Religious Council of Uganda, National Consultative Forum, and Inter-party Organization for Dialogue should jointly convene an urgent meeting of stakeholders to agree a minimum agenda for diffusion of tension.

k) All stakeholders meeting as in (j) above, should sign a declaration pledging peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict and desist from inciting the public into actions that could lead to break down of law and order, as an amicable solution is being sought.

For God and My Country.
Elton Joseph Mabirizi

Press Release: Uganda – Violations against opposition party impeding its efforts to contest election outcome (29.02.2016)

KB 25.02.2015

LONDON, United Kingdom, February 29, 2016. The Ugandan government is continuing to violate the human rights of leaders of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and undermining the ability of their party to legally challenge the results of the 18 February elections, said Amnesty International in a statement, as the 10-day deadline for filing presidential election petitions looms.

Security forces have repeatedly arrested the aggrieved presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye, and some of his party leadership colleagues and supporters. They have also besieged his home, and raided the party’s main office in the capital Kampala.

“The FDC has a legal right to challenge the election results and it must be allowed to do so,” said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.

“It is unacceptable for the government to stifle a lawfully-registered party from pursuing the only legal recourse available for it to contest the electoral outcome.”

Since the results were announced, Dr Besigye has been detained without charge at police stations or at his home in Kasangati, near Kampala.

His first post-election arrest was on 22 February, as he attempted to leave his home the day after he had suggested in a televised speech that he would challenge the outcome of the election in the Supreme Court.

“These arbitrary arrests are an affront to Dr Besigye’s right to freedom of movement and a clear sign of the prevailing climate of impunity and disregard for rule of law in Uganda,” said Sarah Jackson.

“The Ugandan government must fully and effectively respect its own constitution, and honour its voluntary international obligations to protect every Ugandan’s human rights, including to freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly”.

Background

On 20 February, the Electoral Commission declared incumbent President Yoweri Museveni winner of the presidential election with 60.75% of the vote as opposed to Besigye’s 35.37%, an outcome Dr Besigye dismissed as fraudulent.

The election took place amidst a government-ordered social media shutdown that according to European Union (EU) election observers “unreasonably constrained freedom of expression and access to information”.

According to the police, Dr Besigye’s continued arrest was made under powers of “preventive arrest” for “utterances and activities that amount to incitement to violence and defiance of the law”. Amnesty International has examined Dr Besigye’s televised remarks and does not consider him to have incited violence.

FDC headquarters were raided by police on 19 February, while elections were ongoing in parts of Kampala. Witnesses interviewed by Amnesty International said police officers fired tear gas canisters at crowds gathered at the scene.

Bwanika criticizes EC for mishandling elections (Youtube-Clip)

“Former presidential candidate Abed Bwanika has criticised the manner in which the electoral commission handled the electoral process. Bwanika said the commission has failed to give an account of how the tallying was done and what caused the irregularities registered on the presidential polling day. While addressing journalists in Kampala, Bwanika said he would headed to Kasangati to visit former FDC Presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye who is under heavy police guard and movements restricted” (NTV Uganda, 29.02.2016).