{UAH} Church query President Musevni’s victory

Church query President Musevni's victory

February 25, 2016

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National Steering Committee Election Observation Team, chairman, Bishop Wilberforce Luwalira address journalists at UJCC offices in Nsmbya February 25, 2016. (PHOTO: STEPHEN WANDERA)

By Stephen Wandera

KAMPALA, The church has joined international observers and human rights activists to punch holes in the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary electoral process raising queries on the results announced by the Electoral Commission (EC). President Yoweri Museveni won the election by 60 percent ahead of his longtime political rival Dr. Kizza Besigye who is now in 'house arrest' who polled 35 percent. Earlier observers said although said the polls were general peaceful, military deployment influenced voters, a view President Museveni has rubbished.

According to a report by Uganda Joint Christian Council, an ecumenical organization that was established in 1963 with membership comprising of Church of Uganda, Roman Catholic Church and Uganda Orthodox Church, Police has made matters worse by harassing of one of the presidential candidate even after polls.

"The arrests and continued detention of one of the presidential candidates, Dr. Kiiza Besigye,  at this critical period of the electoral exercise on security ground is a worrying development. We do acknowledge that security is an important factor in any election. 

However, article  221  of  the  Constitution  of  Uganda  enjoins  the  security  personnel  to  'observe,  respect human rights and freedoms in the performance of their functions. UJCC notes with concern that Dr. Besigye has been arrested by the security forces about  four times since 16^th February, 2016 but he has not been charged in any court of law," said National Steering Committee Election Observation Team, chairman, Bishop Wilberforce Luwalira said.

National Steering Committee Election Observation Team, chairman, Bishop Wilberforce Luwalira (R) with UJCC executive secretary Slyvestor Arinaitwe (L) arrive to address journalists at UJCC offices in Nsmbya February 25, 2016.
(PHOTO: STEPHEN WANDERA)

Speaking to journalists at UJCC offices in Nsambya to release the UJCC presidential and parliamentary elections observers' report Bishop Luwalira who doubles as Church of Uganda, leader for Kampala dioceses urged government to make a comprehensive report to explain the anomalies.

Some people could not find their names on the voters roll, the Biometric Voter Verification System (BBVS), finger identification scanning machines failed to work and high numbers of invalid votes gray areas, Bishop Luwalira noted.

According to the report of the Electoral Commission, some districts registered a very high  number  of  invalid  votes.  Virtually  all  the  districts  with  unusually  high  number  of  invalid votes  are  from  northern  Uganda.  The  districts  concerned  include  Kaabong  (12.63 percent),  Maracha (10.59 percent), Adjumani (9.81 percent), Kotido (9.47 percent), Arua (9.43 percent), Moroto (8.87 percent), Kitgum (8.43 per cent), Nebbi (8.0 percent).

"In our  view,  the high  level  of invalid votes is largely  attributed to  inadequate  civic  education.  But  there  is  certainly  more  to  it.  We  have  noticed  from  the  results of the presidential elections published by the Electoral Commission that in Otuke  district (northern Uganda) with a total of 28,789 people voted for the presidential candidates and were no invalid votes. UJCC personnel observed elections in a few polling stations in Otuke and we have  reservations regarding the authenticity of the figure about invalid votes published by the commission. In our view, this would also be another interesting subject of research," Bishop Luwalira said.

There was generally high voter turnout, he further explained "However from the results published by the Electoral  Commission, there was a great deal of disparity in the voter turnout.

Districts  which  registered  very  high  voter  turnout  include  Buhweju  (81.94 percent),  Napak  (78.81 percent),  Kapchorwa  (79.92 percent),  (Mitooma  (73.53 percent),  Kween  (77.66 percent). Districts which registered relatively low voter turnout include Kampala (46.33 percent), Amuru (49.88 percent), Wakiso  (50.67 percent), Nwoya (53.78 percent), Gulu (54.97 per cent) and Isingiro (55.03percent). What influenced the voter  turnout? Was it due to inadequate voter education? Was it due to voter apathy, a feeling  that voting is a waste of time? Was it the result of political

mobilization by the local political leaders? This, in our view, would be an interesting subject of research," Bishop Luwalira said.

Rev. Sylvester Arinaitwe UJCC executive secretary said "our  observer  reported  that  in  Amach  Polling  Station  in  Erute  South  Constituency,  Lira  District, the BBVS machine failed to identify 10 people even though their names were on the

voters reoll. Likewise, in Tukum Polling Station in Dakabela Constituency, Soroti District, the  BBVS machine indicated that a lady whose name and photograph were on the voters roll

had already voted and yet she had not voted. A finger checked confirmed she had not voted  but she was denied the right to vote."

Adding, "Some people could not find their names on the voters roll. For example, in Rukungiri district  our observers noted that at least 13 people in five polling stations could not vote because they

were  informed  that  their  names  were  not  on  the  voters  roll, Bishop Luwalira noted. Adding, "Similarly in  Kanungu District, there were ten people in 3 polling stations  also not on the register. Our observers also noted delayed opening of polling stations  in  some  parts  of  Kampala, especially in Makindye East and Makindye West constituencies."

He also demanded an explanation why delay in announcement of results by some returning officers  in Kasese and Alebtong and police use of teargas was used to disperse stakeholders who had become angry and were demanding explanation for the delay.

The clergy also noted lack of transparency in parliamentary election results in Gulu district. "Our observers noted that the returning officer declared the winners without  announcing the results scored by each of the

candidates who contested the parliamentary elections.  In  the  case  of  one  of  the  constituencies,  the  declaration  was  made  against  a  background of alleged ballot stuffing, an allegation

we could not verify."

Rev. Arinitwe commended government for nomination exercise of presidential candidates conducted in a transparent manner Introduction of

National  Identity  Card, BBVS and the Voter Location Slips (VLS), a step in the right direction.

Asked if the polls were free and fair, Bishop Luwelira failed short of words and refereed journalists to make there own conclusion.

Eng. Badru Kiggundu recently told journalists, "who ever is aggrieved can seek court redress."

http://eastafricanvanguard.com/church-query-president-musevnis-victory/

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