{UAH} RESPECT THE WISHES OF THOSE WHO ONLY WANT 'TO APPEAR ON MUSEVENI'S BALLOT PAPER'

RESPECT THE WISHES OF THOSE WHO ONLY WANT 'TO APPEAR ON MUSEVENI'S BALLOT PAPER'

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Image may be subject to copyright

Image may be subject to copyright

Image may be subject to copyright

CHANGE OF GUARDS - Following the court petition over Museveni's February 2016 rigged elections, the Constitutional Court ordered for grand electoral reforms that ought to have been carried out before another round of electoral process scheduled for early 2021. None of these reforms were effected simply because doing so would be to the disadvantage of Museveni's life presidency scheme. Instead, the regime kept buying time. Electoral reforms aside, the regime faced a growing robust opposition and more-so the entry into the political arena of the youthful Musician turned politician, Hon. Kyagulanyi a.k.a Bobi Wine and his youth constituency. It's not that the regime run short of the means to rig but what it fears most is the mobilisation of these youths into mass protests, the Arab Spring way.

Faced with this dilemma, the COVID-19 pandemic came as a blessing to provide the necessary relief. Museveni hastily declared a total lockdown that saw, among other measures, the banning of any form of public assemblies including those of a political nature. His security forces took the lead in designing and enforcing draconian measures disguised as public health precautions. The majority of urban dwellers who are traditionally politically hostile to his regime were targeted. The scheme was to maximally suffocate their mean of economic survival in urban settings so that there is massive urban - rural migration or at best coercing them into submission to the whims of the regime that Museveni calls 'voting wisely'.

In this regard, Museveni exaggerated the COVID-19 scare despite the fact that the country has not formally registered any single death. However, deaths as a result of lack of access to health facilities and other related causes are tremendous. So far, eight citizens have been shot dead by his security officers while many are nursing bullet wounds. The COVID-19 pandemic has also provided him with another opportune moment to massively amass public resources for disadvantaging his political opponents. Due to public pressure, he has been gradually easing the lockdown but religious gatherings and schools remain closed. Initially, he had planned to postpone the early 2021 general elections;
    "To have elections when the virus is still there, I don't think it will be wise......that will be madness," he publicly said last month.

However, after realising that the presidential term of office can't be extended, he has now turned around and ordered his Electoral Commission to declare a road map for a "scientific election." He has decreed that the election campaigns at all levels be conducted on radio, TV and other media outlets to reach out to voters but not open campaign rallies. The Scientific Campaign also goes well with his physical incapacity owing to advanced age.

Immediately after the pronouncement, he convened his regime party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting. In February 2019, he amended his party constitution to provide for lining up of voters during primaries which have always been marred by violent rigging. He even went ahead to secure his endorsement as the sole candidate when his cohorts resolved that he
    ".....continues as leader of the party and country beyond 2021........ emphatically recommend to the membership of the movement and its organs, that His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, our leader and General of the African Resistance, continues leading the movement and state in 2021 and beyond - as we eliminate the bottlenecks to transformation."

Obviously, nobody can dare to challenge his candidacy within his regime party. The only huddle he has is the issue of the constitutional lining up method to elect their flag bearers and convening of a  delegates conference because doing so would mean the opposition can also follow suit. His party has already launched its nationwide campaign by rolling out payment of cash social benefits to the elderly.

Short of that, the political terrain is in his favour if only he can succeed in having a handful of opposition outfits to dance to his "scientific elections" tune.  Already, much as some political actors are expressing resistance to Museveni's electoral machinations, some opposition entities have already expressed their resolve to take part. Other entities are wasting their precious time discussing the possibility of fronting a single candidate against Museveni well knowing that it is unworkable. They are hypocritically avoiding the reality that contesting against Museveni is contesting against the state. For Museveni, the electoral process has always been just a formality and the only preoccupation in his camp is when he will be declared winner for the status quo to remain. Since he has the entire security apparatus, local government structures, the Public Service, the legislature, the Electoral Commission and the cadre Judiciary outfit, there is no doubt, he is in a celebratory mood. As usual, the opposition will lament by way of legal petitions and the cadre Judiciary will be at hand to uphold his election.

There is an overwhelming urge for change throughout the country that Museveni seems to be more abreast of than most of the opposition entities. It's only the citizens of Uganda that can resolve the current impasse but the million dollar question is who can mobilise them. Otherwise, those opposition entities whose sole interest is to simply improve their political profile/CV by just appearing on the Presidential Elections Ballot Paper should be given the opportunity. On the other hand, those pursuing change of the status quo should optimally exploit the existing ripe situation.

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM

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Rehema
Patriot in Kampala,East Africa:Assalamu Alaikum

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