{UAH} Why I Lost: Wafula Oguttu

Some friends have rung to ask me what happened with the
elections.First they inquire about my elections, then the presidential
elections and finally elections in Busoga specifically.
The whole thing here was shambolic and criminal.They were not
elections of any standard. Largely soiled by NRM SG, a daughter of the
soil. She is a real bull in a china shop in Busoga, fighting every
body for power and space.She wants to be VP or PM in the next
government at all costs.

This is the main reason she is at logger heads with Kadaga,the de
facto political leader of Busoga, who still hopes to be Speaker of
Parliament.

Using dirty money she exploits the abject poverty in Busoga to achieve
what she wants.Many political leaders in the region are crying because
of her methods of work.

Good thing is that many people of Busoga have waken up and voted for
Bedigye, for change. The swift is evident, the reason they are angry
because of the broad day light robbery of victories of the opposition.

Before the campaign started and by the time I finished my campaign, it
was obvious I was headed for a big win. I had done many things to
improve people lives which had endeared me to them.I had performed
best on clean water accessibility, 24/7,earning me the nickname of
"our man of water"among women. I was sure of the women vote.
My focus during the five years was development, family income and food
security.
During the five years, my contribution on water point repairs alone
enabled each household to save on average a minimum of Shs 120,000 ,
which water user committees used to collect and steal, or to resort to
dirty swamp water.

However, Museveni and his SG had a more effective method which they
have perfected over the years for compelling peasants to "vote"for
them.They use lots of money for votes,intimidation, ballot stuffing,
outright lies and misusing state organs.
Money distribution was elaborate and well thought out.
Villages were mapped out and households shared out among five agents
to distribute Shs 500,000 for each village.This was done a day before
the elections and on elections day including giving it out even at the
polling stations, with impunity. They gave out anything between Shs.
2,000 and 10,000 depending on the status of the owner of the vote
being bought with instructions to vote the bus.the NRM symbol.

All those given the dirty money were then told lies that the computer
( the biometric system) where they were going to put their finger for
identification would reveal how they have voted!

The money was also used to facilitate ballot stuffing at certain
targeted polling stations.

Before that, during the entire campaign period, the RDCs and the UPDF
officers who were purportedly deployed to handle NAADS program would
assemble peasant women to promise them seeds and animals then at the
same time intimidate them with lies .That if they voted Wafula and
Besigye there would be war as Museveni would not accept to hand over
power to Besigye.They would also add that voting Wafula would mean
missing out on the NAADS seeds as a punishment.

That the President had instructed them to ensure that Wafula does not
return to Parliament to dusturb him. That it would be shameful and
even annoy the President for the District of the NRM SG to elect a
Leader of Opposition in Parliament.
Worse still that it would be terrible for the SG to be replaced by an
FDC woman MP, Eunice Namatende. So the two of us became the SGs
project. and she did not hide it. She talked about it everywhere.That
she would spend any amount of money to achieve what she desired. And
that money she brought, Shs 150m for the last round, for candidates
who did not do any serious campaign any where. Now everybody is asking
where did they get the votes from to "win". Of course they bought.

The bad lesson I have learnt in our politics is that during elections
many ,if not most peasants care more about cash put in their hands
there and then than about development and service delivery. If one
does not care about political corruption, then vote buying by cash is
a cheaper and an easier way to elective offices in our country. This
is the method Museveni uses effectively.He first intimidates the
population and then buys victory.His is rented support. That is why
there is always little jubilation after his so-called wins .The only
presidential candidate who never spends even one shilling for buying
votes is Dr Besigye.

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