EC has measures to check vote rigging
Feb 15, 2006
THE Electoral Commission has noted with concern the contents of the article, “EC Has Started Rigging Elections†in <i>New Vision</i> of February 7, authored by Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu, Chairman of FDC party. The author argues that use of the photo-bearing register with some voters lacking votersâ€
By Badru Kiggundu
THE Electoral Commission has noted with concern the contents of the article, “EC Has Started Rigging Elections†in New Vision of February 7, authored by Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu, Chairman of FDC party. The author argues that use of the photo-bearing register with some voters lacking voters’ cards amounts to rigging of the forthcoming polls by the Electoral Commission (EC)!
He also asserts that “an inefficient†EC hurriedly stopped registration of voters after the return of FDC presidential candidate Col (rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye to disenfranchise his voters who were turning up to register in large numbers, and that the EC has to-date failed to announce the final number of voters on the register so as to manipulate the figures on the final day! He goes on and on.
For the benefit of Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu and people who may have been misled by his views, the EC wishes to make the following clarifications;
The EC, as explained before, has to stop fresh registration of voters to have sufficient time to produce a credible final register in time for polling. If registration were to go on indefinitely, a final register wouldn’t be produced and elections wouldn’t take place! Is this what Dr. Sulaiman
Kiggundu wants?
The EC doesn’t have a mechanism of establishing that certain people (for example tall, light-skinned, bald-headed etc) turning up to register are supporters of a particular candidate, party or the other. There is therefore no way we can stop registration of voters to disenfranchise supporters of a particular candidate /party even if we wanted to do so.
Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu also alleges that the EC is non-responsive to the FDC’s concerns about the environment leading to the forthcoming polls. Every Tuesday and Thursday of each week the EC hosts a meeting of representatives from parties fielding presidential candidates, to continuously chart out a way of managing elections credibly. Eminent representatives of FDC, including Maj. Gen. (rtd) Mugisha Muntu and Maj. (rtd) Rubaramira Ruranga, attend these meetings in which many issues raised are discussed and resolved within the confines of the law.
The EC has not refused to announce the final number of people on the register as stated by Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu. On completing adjustments resulting from the display, the EC convened a press conference on February 8 and announced 10,450,788 as the final number of voters on the register. What more does the un-informed complainant want? I wish to remind Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu and the rest of Ugandans that the following measures have been put in place to ensure that the forthcoming presidential elections are free and fair.
Use of transparent ballot boxes,which we imported recently.
Use of serialized ballot papers and declaration of results forms to ensure full accountability of such materials.
Use of the photo-bearing register, copies of which have been availed to political parties (including the FDC) and other interested individuals and organisations.
Encouragement of all candidates/ parties to appoint competent agents to take charge of their interests at all polling stations on polling day. The EC has also requested parties and candidates to forward their appointed agents for training during training of polling day officials.
The EC is opening up the 2006 general elections to numerous observers both national and international, some of who have already arrived.
The EC is closely working with the Uganda Police Force to enforce electoral laws to the letter.
Following the EC’s earlier request, the police recruited more personnel to ensure sufficient security for elections throughout the country.
Convening weekly party liaison committee meetings to progressively look-out for and plug-up any possible loop-holes that could undermine the conduct of the forthcoming polls, within the established legal framework. As already pointed out, the FDC party is always ably represented in these meetings.
Encouraging parties that have fielded presidential candidates to appoint agents to follow the tallying of the final results at our centre in Namboole stadium.
Encouraging parties’ candidates to participate in the screening of prospective personnel to be hired by the EC as polling officials to ensure that they are acceptable to all.
Establishment of complaints desks at the head office and district offices throughout the country.
Publishing the full list of gazetted polling stations in the press
Convening weekly press briefings to continuously up-date parties, candidates, the electorate and general public about the EC’s preparations in the run-up to the polls
Due to space limitations I cannot list all the measures we have put in place to ensure free and fair elections in Uganda. How can the EC put in place all the above and other measures and then turn around and rig elections? But most of all we as Ugandans must be wholly committed to want a free and fair election result. We must have that!!
We at the Electoral Commission cannot claim to be flawless super-human beings or to have the preserve of knowledge about management of elections. That is why we have a policy of consulting and consensus-building with all stakeholders, including the FDC.
I therefore appeal to Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu and all people of good-will to bring forward constructive proposals and criticisms for consideration by the EC in order to deliver truly free and fair elections.
This country belongs to all of us, and at the EC our doors and ears are open. However, whatever we aspire to do must be in the confines of the existing legal framework. For God and my Country.
The writer is the Chairman of the Electoral Commission
THE Electoral Commission has noted with concern the contents of the article, “EC Has Started Rigging Elections†in New Vision of February 7, authored by Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu, Chairman of FDC party. The author argues that use of the photo-bearing register with some voters lacking voters’ cards amounts to rigging of the forthcoming polls by the Electoral Commission (EC)!
He also asserts that “an inefficient†EC hurriedly stopped registration of voters after the return of FDC presidential candidate Col (rtd) Dr. Kiiza Besigye to disenfranchise his voters who were turning up to register in large numbers, and that the EC has to-date failed to announce the final number of voters on the register so as to manipulate the figures on the final day! He goes on and on.
For the benefit of Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu and people who may have been misled by his views, the EC wishes to make the following clarifications;
Kiggundu wants?
The EC has not refused to announce the final number of people on the register as stated by Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu. On completing adjustments resulting from the display, the EC convened a press conference on February 8 and announced 10,450,788 as the final number of voters on the register. What more does the un-informed complainant want? I wish to remind Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu and the rest of Ugandans that the following measures have been put in place to ensure that the forthcoming presidential elections are free and fair.
Use of serialized ballot papers and declaration of results forms to ensure full accountability of such materials.
Use of the photo-bearing register, copies of which have been availed to political parties (including the FDC) and other interested individuals and organisations.
The EC is opening up the 2006 general elections to numerous observers both national and international, some of who have already arrived.
The EC is closely working with the Uganda Police Force to enforce electoral laws to the letter.
Following the EC’s earlier request, the police recruited more personnel to ensure sufficient security for elections throughout the country.
Encouraging parties’ candidates to participate in the screening of prospective personnel to be hired by the EC as polling officials to ensure that they are acceptable to all.
Establishment of complaints desks at the head office and district offices throughout the country.
Publishing the full list of gazetted polling stations in the press
Convening weekly press briefings to continuously up-date parties, candidates, the electorate and general public about the EC’s preparations in the run-up to the polls
Due to space limitations I cannot list all the measures we have put in place to ensure free and fair elections in Uganda. How can the EC put in place all the above and other measures and then turn around and rig elections? But most of all we as Ugandans must be wholly committed to want a free and fair election result. We must have that!!
We at the Electoral Commission cannot claim to be flawless super-human beings or to have the preserve of knowledge about management of elections. That is why we have a policy of consulting and consensus-building with all stakeholders, including the FDC.
I therefore appeal to Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu and all people of good-will to bring forward constructive proposals and criticisms for consideration by the EC in order to deliver truly free and fair elections.
This country belongs to all of us, and at the EC our doors and ears are open. However, whatever we aspire to do must be in the confines of the existing legal framework. For God and my Country.
The writer is the Chairman of the Electoral Commission