Uganda’s Opposition Parties Boycott Electoral Commission’s Call

East Africa  |  12.21.09   By Randy Odaga

Uganda’s coalition of opposition parties, will not participate in Monday’s briefing called by Electoral Commission on the re-organization of polling stations ahead of the 2011 general elections.

The four parties announced on Friday that they would no longer participate in any activities organized by the commission if it is still headed by Dr. Badru Kiggundu and his team.

They demand that an independent electoral body be constituted as stated in their electoral reforms proposals to Parliament.

The opposition has in the past cried foul about alleged non-existent polling stations, which they say have been used to rig votes in favor of the ruling NRM party.

Opposition spokesman Wafula Oguttu yesterday insisted in a statement that their coalition would be absent at today’s meeting.

“So long as it’s an activity organised by Dr. Kiggundu and the current EC commissioners, we are definitely out of it,” The statement said.

“This is a partisan electoral commission with the sole aim of rigging elections in favour of the NRM. Unfortunately, President Museveni’s government has been adamant and, in an act of utter defiance, renewed the tenure of the discredited commission. This is totally unacceptable.”

The opposition’s stance against the current EC comes on the backdrop of the 2006 Supreme Court ruling in a petition filed by Kizza Besigye, who lost to President Museveni.

Besigye lost the petition on a 4-3 verdict, but the judges not only concurred that the EC did not conduct the poll in compliance with the constitution, the Presidential Elections Act, and the Electoral Commission Act; but also unanimously ruled that the poll was not held in compliance with the principles of the Constitution and other relevant laws.

The EC was faulted for disenfranchisement of voters, ineptness in the counting and tallying of results, partisan and partial conduct by some officials and apparent inadequacy of voter education

Share it