By John V Sserwaniko
PDP Party President Dr. Abed Bwanika used the EC Tuesday function at Hotel Africana to make Busiro South MP Peter Sematimba uncomfortable. The Electoral Commission (EC) had invited representatives from 73 key stakeholder institutions to launch the road map and Strategic Plan for the 2020-2021 election cycle. Stakeholders included diplomatic missions, MPs, the academia, Political party leaders, religious leaders and former Presidential candidates. It was a glamorous event at which Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda launched the road map that will require Shs868bn to be implemented in a phased manner effective March 2019.
BWANIKA RANTS;
Speaking from the audience, Bwanika took issue with a number of people including Sematimba who in an earlier submission had announced the readiness of over 300 radio stations (uniting under NAB) to each give EC one hour of prime time (per week) to popularize its road map to millions of their listeners. Sematimba made this announcement in his capacity as Vice Chairman for National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) which unites TV, radio and online media platform operators. Speaking moments later, Bwanika (who introduced himself as the coordinator for People Power) bashed the EC bosses for cheerfully welcoming Sematimba’s offer which he said was a ploy to compromise the EC. “That is how we end up with rigged elections,” Bwanika said before directly attacking Sematimba who sat within spitting distance from where he was speaking from. “You invited me here as a presidential candidate but I’m here in the capacity of coordinator People Power which is another formidable force you will be contending with as you organize 2021 elections. But I’m not amused seeing the entire Electoral Commission clapping for the offer from Sematimba. I want to warn you Peter Sematimba that leave the EC alone. How do you host the EC on your radio when you are already an interested party in the elections? I beg you to keep away from the EC because it’s independent. Should you dare do so, we shall go to court and sue both the EC and yourself.” EC Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama moments later told off Bwanika calling him “mundane.” Byabakama said: “People like Mr. Bwanika need to style up because politics isn’t a sleazy affair.” Dismissing Bwanika as very simplistic Byamukama demanded for evidence on how mere appearance on a radio station to communicate voter education messages amounts to the EC being compromised. Bwanika had also bashed the EC for surrendering its voter registration mandate to NIRA. He said this was indicative of EC’s incompetence and powerlessness. “NIRA is clearly an interested institution and can sway away voters the way they want and this is why we are saying EC shouldn’t derive its voters register data from NIRA because registration of voters is its core mandate,” Bwanika said. He also accused the EC of conniving with NRM which he said isn’t interested in electoral reforms “and we all saw their unseriousness last time when they only changed the name to add the word independent.” He also referred to NRM EC Chairman Odoi Tanga who said the early release of the road map was an opportunity for the opposition to “organize themselves as opposed to endless lamentations.”
BYABAKAMA RESPONDS;
A clearly irritated Byabakama responded by wondering how a whole presidential candidate couldn’t be aware of the well-publicized efforts by the EC to have the necessary reforms enacted early. “We some time back submitted 34 reforms which we want to see but we gave this through the office of Attorney General and this was public information. How then do you say we don’t see the need for electoral reforms?” Byabakama called on Commissioner Stephen Tashobya, who headed the EC team that came up with the 34 proposed reforms, to clarify more. Tashobya had no kind words for the three time Presidential Candidate whom he advised to reach out to any friendly MP he is comfortable with and use him to push the electoral reform agenda in parliament by moving a private members’ bill. Indeed prior to that Agago County MP Otto Edward Makmot had told the gathering of readiness to work with like-minded legislators to bring a private members bill since the executive doesn’t seem enthusiastic about electoral reforms. Tanga also defended himself urging Bwanika to adopt the language of reconciliation “so that our respective supporters begin to see us talking as colleagues rather than being antagonistic all the time.” Other plenary speakers included Ntenjeru MP Amos Lugoloobi who thanked the EC for coming up with a well elaborated annualized expenditure plan showing how much is required to implement electoral activities planned for the few years remaining to the next elections. UPC’s Micheal Orach Osinde (who chairs the legal committee of the National Consultative Forum through which Rugunda promised to mobilize all parties to embrace the EC’s road map) questioned why the cost for 2021 (Shs868bn) had gone up so much compared to 2016’s mere Shs500bn.
PPDA BOSS WARNS;
Benson Turamye, whose PPDA regulates and oversees all government procurements, warned the EC against poor procurement planning saying no waivers will be permitted for them to escape some procurement requirements under the guise of beating the 2021 deadline. Already complex procurement procedures have affected EC’s plans to leave its current Jinja road headquarters for a new headquarter that is yet to be procured. Byabakama explained that the process was halted after aggrieved bidders petitioned both PPDA and Court, a thing that has delayed the entire process. Byabakama said staying at the current location (which EC staffers casually call the swamp) is untenable because KCCA/UNRA plans to construct flyover facilities and as well as the Standard Gauge Railway project have already prompted concerned authorities to write notices requiring the EC to relocate. “Whatever the case, the determination is to buy an already built place because we won’t have time to construct on our own. Gratefully our funders, the government of Uganda, are well briefed on how much is required to achieve that relocation,” he said adding that lots of very expensive equipment at the Jinja road location is the reason why EC now needs a permanent home to minimize future movements and relocations exposing the equipment to possible damage.
ABOUT THE ROAD MAP;
The election road man, as articulated by both Rwakojo and Director Operations Leonard Mulekwa, shows that there are just 20 months remaining to the next election. The real preparatory work begins March next year with the demarcation and creation of electoral areas, which Byabakama says must be done properly to avoid acrimony on the polling day. Rwakojo explained why the EC needs Shs868bn for the 2021 election cycle as opposed to 2016’s Shs500bn. Rwakojo said the 2021 cycle comes with more Sub Counties (2,000) compared to 2016 (1,398); more parishes (9,500) compared to 2016 (7,431); more districts (141) compared to 2016 (112); more villages (65,200) compared to 2016 (57,842); more polling stations (35,000) compared to 2016 (28,010) and more Municipalities (80) compared to 2016’s 39. The EC top bureaucrat added that there will be more eligible voters in 2021 (19.4m) compared to 2016 (15.2m). He added that they are also planning to invest a lot in comprehensive voter education and to also integrate many of the reforms the Supreme Court directed in the Amama Mbabazi vs. YK Museveni presidential election petition. Rwakojo revealed that this Shs868bn doesn’t include wage bill, capital development and acquisition of the new building that will house the EC headquarters. The same road map shows that those wanting to run for Presidency and MP Seats strictly have 20 months to go. The Presidential candidates will be nominated on Thursday 20th August 2020 at earliest and not later than Friday 21st August 2020. This (20th August) date clearly means it’s only 20 months remaining. For the MPs, nominations will have to be done between Wednesday 12th August 2020 & Thursday 13th August 2020. The Presidential candidates will campaign for 127 days (Wednesday 2nd Sept 2020-Saturday 9th January 2021). For MPs, campaigning begins on Sunday 16th August 2020 and ends on Saturday 9th January 2021. For the LG Councils, nominations will have to be done between Monday 20th July 2020 & Friday 24th July 2020. Campaigning for local council will run from Thursday 30th July 2020 to Saturday 9th January 2021. The election date for President and MPs hasn’t yet been decided but the EC says it will have to fall on a date between Monday 11th January 2021 & Tuesday 9th February 2021. As for LG council elections, it will fall on the day EC will choose between Monday 11th January 2021 and Tuesday 9th February 2021. The EC officials implored Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda to ensure any new districts that have to be created are done not later than February next year (2019) to avoid distorting EC’s planning and budgeting processes. The same was said of any electoral reforms government intends to enact.
NOT GOOD ENAF;
But renowned civil society leader Crispy Kaheru, whose CCEDU is famous for its participation in election observation, said whereas it was good the EC had done the right thing, it was too early to become excited. Kaheru, who has been at the forefront fighting for electoral reforms, noted that without electoral reforms, the road map is like a nice house standing on a shaky foundation. He says without electoral reforms, the loopholes that have in the past eroded public confidence in the electoral processes could only worsen. He also made reference to the cost saying at Shs868, the 2021 election is being too expensive for an economy that is already struggling. He says EC should leverage on things the ICTs and other innovations to lower the cost of election management like it’s done in other countries. He says representation in Parliament and local councils should be determined based on interest groups as opposed to geographical areas. He says the cost would somehow be justified if it had been accompanied by credibly verifiable guarantees for a better election exercise than 2016 was. “A good road map alone [without the necessary reforms] can’t deliver a good election. We must tackle real issues that touch on the integrity of our elections,” Kaheru asserted. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
