The Electoral Commission has now the ball in its court. At a press conference yesterday, Military Co­mmission Chairman Paulo Muwa­nga categorically stated that the issue of whether elections will be held by the September 30 deadline was a matter for the Electoral Commission.

Replying to a reporter’s question, Chairman Muwanga declared: «If the question is: Is the Military Commission committed to the holding of fair and free elections, the answer is «YES». But if the question is: Will there be a delay in holding the elections, the answer must come from the Electoral Commission and not from the Military Commission.»

The Chairman explained that it was laid down by statute that elections have to be conducted by the Electoral Commission and not by the Government.

He said that the Military Commission had done everything required of it to facilitate the elections, such as the publishing of the census results, appointing an Electoral Co­mmission, and providing the necessary funds estimated to be 100m/­of which 40 per cent is expected to be in convertible currency.    

Chairman Muwanga read to the newsmen a letter from the Secretary of the Electoral Commission, but it was silent on the deadline issue.

The letter, dated August 18, 1980 said: “Thank you for your letter PS/76 of 14th August 1980, in which you inform me that the representatives of the four Political Parties, at their Inter-Party meeting held on Thurs­day 14th August, 1980, decided that the Electoral Commission should produce the revised time-table for the forthcoming general elections bearing in mind that the elections will not be held later than 30th September 1980. The Electoral Co­mmission has carefully studied and discussed this letter and I am directed to reply as follows:

1. It is the view of the Commission that it is not in a position to draw up a reliable time-table which can strictly be followed and adhered to, before:-

a) the election materials and equi­pment, and vehicles necessary for the major activities have been delivered in the country, and

b) the necessary amendments to the Constitution and the Na­tional Assembly (Elections) Act have been effected. You may wish to note that the Commission has already drawn up a provisional time-table which could not be impleme­nted for the same reasons and it would not like to repeat this mistake.

2) I am further directed to inform you that the Electoral Commission is doing all it can, through the appropriate authorities and insti­tutions, to procure the required materials and equipment. However, when the materials for the registration of voters exercise (which materials have already been ordered) are received, the Commission will announce the day when the registration of voters will commence, even before it comes up with a time-table, taking care of the whole range of the activities for the general elections.”

Stressing the commitment of the Military Commission with regard to holding elections, Chairman Muwa­nga said: “I would like to make it clear that a change of the date of holding elections is not a matter for the Military Commission to decide but the Electoral Commission which will, no doubt, give reasons for such delay. All Political Parties are aware of this position of the Military Commission. It would be utterly wrong for any political party to attribute change of the date elections are to be held to the Military Commission”.

He added that information, inclu­ding rumours, by certain elements here and abroad, implying that the Military Commission was out to thwart, the birth-rights of Ugandans to elect a government of their choice was «ill-intentioned, misleading and meant to create distrust between the people and the Military Commiss­ion.»

Questioned about rumours that there are Cubans in the country, Chairman Muwanga retorted: «You can tell your readers that there are Cubans in Uganda - because there is a Cuban embassy here. But if you are talking about Cuban soldiers, the answer is a definite «NO».

Queries about competence of EC are historical

The current complaints and agitation by the opposition is not a new thing on Uganda’s political and election history. Even during the 1980 elections, the opposition which included President Museveni at the time, demanded that The Electoral Commission, releases a reliable timetable for the elections and make a commitment that the voting day would not be later than September 30 that year. The opposition which included Museveni’s party, the UPM, variously questioned the integrity, impartiality and competence of the Electoral Commission in conducting the elections.

However the EC replied that it could not issue an accurate timetable nor commit itself on the deadline of the elections until the required election materials had been procured and amendments to the constitution and the electoral law had been made. At that time, among the accusations against the EC were that it was partisan in favour of the UPC which had close links with the interim ruling Military Commission headed by Paulo Muwanga who indeed later became the vice president in the new UPC government after the elections. In all these agitations, the UPM now NRM was involved in demanding amendments to the law, revision of the electoral process and EC structures and roadmap, to ensure free and fair elections. Today the opposition is demanding similar reforms for free and fair elections but the NRM now in power like the Military Commission in 1980, has snubbed them and insisted there will be no changes in the Electoral Commission membership nor the electoral laws.

Is there any correlation between what was happening between the opposition, the Electoral Commission and the government in 1980 when UPM/NRM was in the opposition and what is prevailing today when it is in government? That’s why The Independent brings back the flashbacks of the 1980 to help Ugandans make a fair comparison and take a critical look into how the behaviour of politicians takes a dramatic reversal when they move from either the opposition or the ruling side to the other.      

Compiled and reproduced by John Njoroge

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