The Jubilation and Tribulation of Uganda’s National Elections in 2016

Compiled by,
Elizabeth Nantamu, Coordinator Communication and Information FHRI

In the just concluded electoral process for the Presidential and Parliamentary race held on 18^th February 2016 in Uganda, the incumbent President Yoweri Museveni won with a little more than 60% of the 9.2 million votes cast followed by his perennial rival Dr. Kizza Besigye  with about 35.3% votes according to the Electoral Commission (EC).

Although Ugandans were largely calm and peaceful during and after the elections, the country was under a very tense atmosphere with the deployment of police and army personnel alongside a display of security machinery almost everywhere in the country.

After another term of five years, the Election Day started in a peaceful manner with enthusiastic voters strolling to their polling stations early in the morning to make their voices heard on their future leaders at the presidential and parliamentary positions through the ballot. The electoral process that was fairly smooth had a 65% voter turnout.  Unfortunately, there was a general delay of opening polling stations which was stretched to late afternoon hours due to the late arrival of the important election equipment especially in Kampala and neighbouring districts. The opening of the stations at odd times of the day in some stations made it impossible for citizens to cast their vote in time and this was the beginning of the break down of the electoral process.

This was followed by the blocking of the cyber communication of the social media platforms and the movement of on-line money transactions using mobile phones, was another violation of freedom of expression and access to information to Ugandans; a decision taken by the Uganda Communications Commission.

Uganda: Stop Police Brutality And Excessive Use Of Force Against Persons Seeking to Exercise their Freedoms of Expression, Association and Assembly

PRESS RELEASE

The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) condemns the continued use of preventive arrests and excessive force by the Uganda Police Force against persons seeking to exercise their freedoms of expression, association and assembly.

In particular, FHRI is concerned about the wanton use of force, teargas and live bullets against Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and his supporters that occurred yesterday 16^th November 2015. These practices are demeaning, degrading and run counter to the principles of good policing. FHRI strongly condemns the acts that led to the shooting of Delta TV journalist Isaac Kugonza and the injuring of city councillor Mariam Kizito during this incident.

The continued use of preventive arrest and excessive force against opposition activists does not augur well with the existing constitutional order. Whereas the police are mandated to maintain law and order, it must desist from acts that continue to fuel conflict and unrest, and stifle democratic activities.

FHRI urges the Uganda Police Force to exercise restraint and adopt crowd-control methods that are proportionate to the situation. More importantly, the police should protect all persons irrespective of their political persuasion in order to guarantee an environment conducive to the exercise of political freedoms during this election period.

FHRI calls upon the government to investigate and prosecute all errant officers engaged in endless attacks against journalists, political activists and other persons seeking to exercises their freedoms of expression, association and assembly.

Dr Livingstone Sewanyana

Executive Director

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Foundation For Human Rights Initiative (FHRI)

P.O. Box 11027 Kampala

Plot 1853 Block 15 Lulume Road, Nsambya

Tel: 256-414-510263,510498, 510276

Fax: 256-414-510498

Email: fhri@dmail.ug

Website: www.fhri.or.ug

CEON-U blows whistle on election violence

by CEON-UG Team

“…. Leaders must rise to a nationwide standard of Zero Tolerance to Violence in Uganda”

The Citizens’ Election Observers Network – Uganda (CEON-Uganda) is a consortium of 18  civil society organizations committed to conducting a unified, comprehensive and effective domestic election observation mission for the 2016 general elections. The consortium’s intervention is guided by the overarching need to promote transparency, accountability and integrity, as well as increase citizen participation in Uganda’s electoral processes. This statement is based on reports from 182 Long term Observers (LTOs) deployed in182 Constituencies across the country, who witnessed voting in one thousand three hundred and twenty two (1322)  NRM polling stations (PS).

According to National Resistance Movement’s constitution the Vision of NRM  is

 “a peaceful, united and democratic Uganda” (Chap. 2 art 4). One of the Party’s national objectives is to “consolidate democracy and constitutional governance” (Chap 2. Art. 7b).

Furthermore the NRM’s Code of Conduct requires all of its members to be “truthful and trustworthy” (rule 2 d) and maintain “high moral standards” (rule 2 e). To that end NRM members are prohibited from engaging in “corrupt practices”(rule 4e), which according to the Code of Conduct can result in dismissal from the Party.

Despite this explicit legal framework to guide the conduct of elections in NRM. CEON-U observers reported the occurence of violence and intimidation in one hundred and sixty eight (186) polling stations across eighty nine (89)constituencies. Voter bribery and vote buying was used to influence voters from one hundred and fourteen (114) polling stations in fifty one (51) constituencies. NRM party members were turned away from one hundred and ninety three (193) polling stations in sixty six (66) constituencies, and hence denied the right to elect a candidate of their choice.

Violence, intimidation, voter bribery and vote buying have no place in a free and democratic society. The widespread use of these campaign tactics undermines the legitimacy of elections and voters’ freedom of expression, association and assembly. Observers commended police for containing potentially explossive situations in many places. 

Read more about this report Here and the recommendations Here.