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By Gerald Bareebe & Philippa Croome (Source: http://www.monitor.co.ug)
Posted Wednesday, March 9 2011 at 00:00
 Presidential election losers and police are set for a showdown on Wednesday after the opposition insisted they will peacefully protest the February 18 poll outcome. In a joint press statement in Kampala on Tuesday, Mr Olara Otunnu (UPC), John Ken Lukyamuzi (CP), Asuman Basalirwa (Jeema) and Walter Sam Lubega (Ind) said they will stage a protest at the Railway Grounds in Kampala at 10am. Shortly after yesterday’s briefing, police sealed off the venue with heavy anti-riot equipment. Foot soldiers and the police have also been deployed to patrol and guard the area.
The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, warned the protesters, saying details of the demo had not been provided to the police beforehand to ensure a peaceful protest. “Any planned demonstration or procession in this instance is therefore unlawful and shall not be allowed to take place,” he said. However, opposition groups said the right to peacefully protest is guaranteed by the Constitution and warned police, including Gen. Kayihura, that they risk being taken to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if they brutalise Ugandans who are exercising their rights. “We come in peace and with our bare hands,” the opposition leaders said in a joint statement. Neither DP leader Norbert Mao nor FDC president Kizza Besigye was present at yesterday’s briefing despite both having called for peaceful protests in the past.
Dr Besigye pulled out yesterday after telling the other groups he needed more time to consult with the members of his party. Today’s protest comes less than three weeks after the Electoral Commission declared Mr Museveni winner of the February 18 presidential poll with 68 per cent of the vote. The closest challenger, Dr Besigye, came second with 26 per cent. Mr Museveni has previously also threatened to jail any opposition politician who incites unrest and any individual who attempts to demonstrate against the results.
In a statement issued by State House yesterday, Mr Museveni warned opposition youth wingers threatening riots, saying that “government will not tolerate anybody promoting and threatening violence.” Gen. Kayihura said yesterday that today’s protest is part of a wider project by the opposition groups to destabilise security in the country. “I consequently caution any person organising or intending to hold or participate in such unlawful demonstration, which has potential to degenerate into a riotous situation, that such action constitutes a criminal offence and the police shall take firm and resolute action against such persons,” he said in a statement. But the opposition has gone ahead to issue ground rules which they said must be strictly observed by their supporters during today’s peaceful protest to avoid destruction of property. They said they have the support of four million Ugandans, who have so far signed their “Blue Book,” a petition for free and fair elections to be conducted by a new and independent Electoral Commission.
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Posted Monday, March 7 2011 at 00:00
Kampala
 Ugandans in the United Kingdom yesterday held a demonstrate in front of the Ugandan Embassy in Central London, protesting the outcome of the February 18 general elections, saying they were not free and fair. The demonstrators, who extended their protests to the UK Prime Minister David Cameron, called for fresh elections and threatened to stage another demo on March 18 if Kampala doesn’t heed their demand. In a 12-page petition addressed to Mr Cameron and copied to the Ugandan Embassy in London, the American Embassy and the Commonwealth Secretariat, the demonstrators rejected the February 18 polls. “We categorically reject the results of this scandalous process and will not recognise any government formed out of these elections.” “We are therefore calling for an emergency summit with other stakeholders to address this crisis in order to have a free and fair 2011 general election,” the petition read in part. They also denounced re-elected President Museveni who has promised to “eat” his challenger Dr Kizza Besigye who disputed poll results and called for fresh elections. During the NRM victory party, Mr Museveni said: “We will catch him and eat him like a cake,” he said, referring to Dr Besigye, who got 26 per cent in the polls. Dr Besigye said the poll was rigged and has called for protests and fresh elections. International observers said the elections were free and fair but cited isolated cases of violence. President Museveni, who has ruled for 25 years, said he will jail anyone who attempts Egypt-style protests. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ambassador Johnnie Carson recently told President Museveni to stop bullying opposition activists and allow peaceful demonstrations because “freedom of association in a peaceful manner is a clear democratic right”. “I would appeal to President Museveni to allow the peaceful demonstrations. Freedom of association in a peaceful manner is a clear democratic right; it is a fundamental right.” |
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 Last Thursday evening, the sad news wafted through; Col. (Rtd) Walter Ochora, who had been admitted to the International Hospital in Kampala, had passed on due to respiratory complications. Just a few days ago, Col. Ochora, who had been the NRM flag-bearer for the Gulu LC5 seat, had lost to FDC’s Ojara Mapenduzi—and unlike what most other losers were doing—he immediately congratulated his rival and promised to work with him. Ochora’s gesture, at a time when the country seems locked in a political impasse after a gruelling election, is the kind we would love to see all politicians adopt. When in 2006 he lost the same seat to DP’s Norbert Mao, Col. Ochora again did the same thing—accepted defeat honourably. In fact his political maturity was exhibited in the following five years after 2006, when he was appointed Resident District Commissioner of Gulu. In Mr Mao’s own words, other than use that position to antagonise a political foe, like most politicians would do, Ochora worked closely with the district chairman and Gulu is now on the path to recovery after bearing the brunt of two decades of war. In a country where the political atmosphere seems polluted largely by propaganda spewed by extremists from both sides, people like Ochora, known for their bi-partisan approach to ideological contests, injected a much-needed wave of fresh air. It is this bi-partisan nature that saw him join the mainly opposition wagon of Mao, Reagan Okumu and several others to make contact with rebel leader Joseph Kony in quest for peace talks—at a time when the establishment looked firmly rooted on the military approach. The talks might have collapsed, but it was an important step in setting the north on the path of stability that it enjoys today. And it is just not for the serious that we shall remember Ochora. His sense of humour, especially when labelling himself as one of Uganda’s shortest-serving presidents, in his reference to announcing the 1985 coup that overthrew the Obote II regime, left his audience in stitches. He was a free, outgoing man. It was easy to catch him on the social scene, complete in suspenders, enjoying music and shaking his burly frame. In Ochora we have lost a mature politician, an entrepreneur and a social person. May his soul rest in peace.
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The Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) today (Feb 16th 2011) hosted its closing press for the “Honour Your Vote” campaign at Kampala Protea Hotel. In his remarks, Crispy Kaheru (above right); CCEDU Project Coordinator was optimistic that the message in the campaign was well received by the public and that this will translate into high voter turnout on February 18th polling day.
Addressing the same press conference, Political Commissar for Kampala Metropolitan Division ASP Emilian Kayima (above, center), who represented the Uganda Police appealed to the public to restrain from taking the law into their own hands during and after the election period. He explained that the current security deployment was meant to keep law and order and not intimidate voters.
The CCEDU Executive Board chairman Mr. Livingstone Ssewanyana (standing above) urged all corporate and more privileged citizens to make a difference in this election and turn out in big numbers on polling day. He also noted that there should be a conducive voting environment for all, citing appropriate and proportionate deployment of security personnel among other issues. Mr. Ssewanyana also urged voters to value their vote as the tool for ensuring better service delivery and a weapon against graft.
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Author:
Ruth Mubiri
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are demanding for a mechanism to resolve disputes that may arise from the Friday general elections.
The CSOs, Citizen Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU), Uganda Watch and Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) amongst others wants disputes from the polls to be resolved without resorting to violence.
Livingstone Sewanyana, the Executive Director Foundation FHRI wants all candidates to use lawful means to resolve any election disputes.
He says that the disputes have to be resolved expeditiously to avert post election violence.
On security deployment, Sewanyana calls upon the police to ensure a safe voting environment as opposed to voter intimidation.
Emilian Kayima, Political Commissar Kampala Metropilitan Police says that police has only deployed to ensure safety not to intimidate voters. He warns against individuals who plan to disrupt the exercise. |
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