2021 Elections – is the electoral process free and fair?

Jan 11, 2021 Leader Cover Story 0

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Ugandans will go to the polls on 14th January 2021. Allow me to note that an election for political offices is not just an event. There are processes leading to the final voting and tallying which must be met to be considered a free, fair and democratic election. It is essential therefore that elections reflect the free expression of the will of the people. Transparency and inclusiveness should be observed too.

Throughout the electoral process or following the election road map, the Electoral Commission should be accountable to the candidates and their voters as well. There should be equitable opportunities for people to actively compete in elections.
However, it is worth noting that the current election is taking place amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. What does this mean for Uganda? Malawi, Burundi and Tanzania are some African countries that recently held elections in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The US also held an election at a time when they had the highest number of Coronavirus cases. Different countries are dealing with elections during this pandemic in ways they deem fit. There isn’t one approach that has been agreed upon and widely accepted. In Uganda’s case, the Electoral Commission suggested digital campaigns where social media, radios and television modes are employed by the presidential candidates to reach out to their voters as well as a ‘scientific’ approach that encourages new health protocols like the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)) and wearing masks for people attending political campaigns.

On 26th November 2020, the Chairperson, Electoral Commission wrote a letter to the Inspector General of Uganda Police bringing to his attention: Alleged blocking and or Disrupting Scheduled Candidates’ Campaign Meetings. Accordingly, the campaigns that are conducted under harmonized Electoral Commission program recognized under the Presidential Elections Act and the Roadmap for the 2021 General Elections were being violated by the actions of the Police.

On Tuesday, December 2nd, the Daily Monitor newspaper had one of its leading stories titled; Stop favouring Museveni, Africa judges tell security. Here, the African judges under their professional association of Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) castigated Ugandan security forces for disrupting the electoral process by attacking and blocking Opposition candidates on the campaign trail.

Both the ruling NRM party candidates and the Opposition politicians are alleged to be flouting the COVID-19 health protocols at their rallies but implementation of those guidelines are seemingly applied selectively. For example, access to radio stations has been a persistent problem while campaigning upcountry. The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Hon. Kyagulanyi Robert Sentamu (alias Bobi Wine) was denied access to both Mega FM and Rupiny radios while campaigning in Gulu. Read More at http://www.leadershipmagazine.org

By Jimmy Odoki Acellam

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