Disband EC â€" FDC
Aug 05, 2005
THE Forum for democratic Change (FDC) wants the Electoral Commission (EC) reconstituted to cater for the interests of various stakeholders now that the country has embraced multipartyism.
By Apollo Mubiru
THE Forum for democratic Change (FDC) wants the Electoral Commission (EC) reconstituted to cater for the interests of various stakeholders now that the country has embraced multipartyism.
FDC vice-chairperson Augustine Ruzindana said the EC was not credible any more after inflating the July 28 referendum results on the change of political system.
“As an ingredient of a free and fair elections in 2006, EC must be reconstituted and a new body formed. We have evidence that EC inflated the voters’ turnup and the ballots cast to make their results look credible,†he said.
But EC public relations officer Okello Jabweli described FDC’s concern as an absurd allegation.
He said, “We gave all major media houses the results and we are going to buy space in papers to publicise the results. They can log on our website to see the results per constituency. They should stop politicking. Their claims have no basis.â€
Ruzindana was flanked by FDC officials Salaam Musumba, Abdul Katuntu Wafula Ogutu, Beti Kamya, Sam Njuba, Elijah Okupa and Reagan Okumu at FDC Villas in Najjanakumbi yesterday.
At the weekly press briefing, Ruzindana said all Movement organs should be disbanded after opening up the political space.
Katuntu described the referendum as a flop given the four million people who participated out of the 11 million adults and the fact that the Movement boasts of over 10 million supporters.
Ruzindana said the referendum did not cost only sh22b and estimated the amount at over sh50b, including the money the President used to campaign, his ministers and NRM MPs who campaigned for the ‘yes’ side.
He said President Yoweri Museveni’s life presidency ambition was a stumbling block for the East African Federation.
Ruzindana said FDC’s campaign strategy for 2006 would be unveiled soon.
THE Forum for democratic Change (FDC) wants the Electoral Commission (EC) reconstituted to cater for the interests of various stakeholders now that the country has embraced multipartyism.
FDC vice-chairperson Augustine Ruzindana said the EC was not credible any more after inflating the July 28 referendum results on the change of political system.
“As an ingredient of a free and fair elections in 2006, EC must be reconstituted and a new body formed. We have evidence that EC inflated the voters’ turnup and the ballots cast to make their results look credible,†he said.
But EC public relations officer Okello Jabweli described FDC’s concern as an absurd allegation.
He said, “We gave all major media houses the results and we are going to buy space in papers to publicise the results. They can log on our website to see the results per constituency. They should stop politicking. Their claims have no basis.â€
Ruzindana was flanked by FDC officials Salaam Musumba, Abdul Katuntu Wafula Ogutu, Beti Kamya, Sam Njuba, Elijah Okupa and Reagan Okumu at FDC Villas in Najjanakumbi yesterday.
At the weekly press briefing, Ruzindana said all Movement organs should be disbanded after opening up the political space.
Katuntu described the referendum as a flop given the four million people who participated out of the 11 million adults and the fact that the Movement boasts of over 10 million supporters.
Ruzindana said the referendum did not cost only sh22b and estimated the amount at over sh50b, including the money the President used to campaign, his ministers and NRM MPs who campaigned for the ‘yes’ side.
He said President Yoweri Museveni’s life presidency ambition was a stumbling block for the East African Federation.
Ruzindana said FDC’s campaign strategy for 2006 would be unveiled soon.