{UAH} Expecting free and fair elections is asking too much - Nicholas Sengooba

Moving through Kampala after the results of the just-concluded election, one would be mistaken for thinking that the country was in mourning. The winning side was not celebrating. 

The losing side was obviously heartbroken and asking the dampened spirit to rise up and be happy would be asking too much. 

Many months ago, I wrote here and even said it several times in interviews and on talk shows in the electronic media both local and international, that incumbent Yoweri Museveni would be announced winner - irrespective of what happened at the ballot. 

After 30 years in power, Museveni now overshadows all institutions of State.

It is time to have a serious conversation on the usefulness of elections in the context of Museveni and NRM in power. That context is a pseudo military arrangement that occasionally postures to practice democratic rituals like holding periodic elections of a very low quality like the one we have just witnessed. It is a context wrought with impunity, arrogance and contempt. It is not a good thing. 

Otherwise, continuing with the charade and theatrics that come with elections only for people to go grumbling is very bad for democracy. People will become cynical and deflated. It will lead many into the temptation of thinking about other means like force, which is not viable or even useful. It also means leaders can do as they please because they do not owe the electorate accountability since their hold onto power is not the vote but force and fraud. It is not a good thing. We have to think quick and hard.
I cannot count the number of people who say they will not vote again because they think it is a waste of time. That is not good at all.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/OpEdColumnists/NicholasSengooba/Expecting-free-and-fair-elections-is-asking-too-much/-/1293432/3088294/-/10fdpjaz/-/index.html

Sincerely,

Brian M. Kwesiga