Rwanda polls, a lesson to Uganda’s politicians
Oct 07, 2003
A TEAM of European Union observers has pronounced the recent landmark legislative elections in Rwanda as seriously flawed
Midweek Opinion
with John Kakande
A TEAM of European Union observers has pronounced the recent landmark legislative elections in Rwanda as seriously flawed.
The team’s leader Colette Flesh said the polls though conducted in a calm and orderly manner, were characterised by manipulation of the voter lists and ballot box stuffing.
Uganda’s opposition ought to draw important lessons from Rwanda’s presidential and parliamentary elections. Rwanda supposedly has a multiparty system with eight registered ‘parties’, but the RPF virtually remains the dominant political force in the country.
It is important to note that the mere existence of a multiparty system did not translate into a more transparent, free and fair electoral process. The law in Rwanda forbids parties from organising at the local level, though the RPF exercises considerable control at the local level.
The Ugandan opposition appears to be too pre-occupied with trivial issues that in the long run won’t really have significant impact on the quality of the electoral process in 2006.
A lot more needs to be done to ensure a transparent, free and fair electoral process. Since the Movement leadership has undertaken to support opening up of the political space, the opposition should come up with proposals on how to manage the transition and ensure that the 2006 electoral process is transparent, free and fair.
The mainstream opposition parties are currently bogged down in litigation connected to the Political Parties and Organisations Act (PPOA) and arguments over the ‘third term’. I share their concerns about the PPOA. I also know some, while trying to register the NRM as a party, have also discovered that the PPOA was flawed.
The Act was enacted at a time when the thinking within the Movement was to suffocate the rival political forces. Nevertheless, it would be constructive for the opposition to make specific proposals on overhauling the PPOA.
The public has been made to believe that the parties are opposed to the Act merely because they do not want to register. Government needs to come out with a blueprint for the transition.
Government is sending out mixed messages creating uncertainty, which hurts investments. Citizens and investors are now left guessing as to the country’s political direction.
with John Kakande
A TEAM of European Union observers has pronounced the recent landmark legislative elections in Rwanda as seriously flawed.
The team’s leader Colette Flesh said the polls though conducted in a calm and orderly manner, were characterised by manipulation of the voter lists and ballot box stuffing.
Uganda’s opposition ought to draw important lessons from Rwanda’s presidential and parliamentary elections. Rwanda supposedly has a multiparty system with eight registered ‘parties’, but the RPF virtually remains the dominant political force in the country.
It is important to note that the mere existence of a multiparty system did not translate into a more transparent, free and fair electoral process. The law in Rwanda forbids parties from organising at the local level, though the RPF exercises considerable control at the local level.
The Ugandan opposition appears to be too pre-occupied with trivial issues that in the long run won’t really have significant impact on the quality of the electoral process in 2006.
A lot more needs to be done to ensure a transparent, free and fair electoral process. Since the Movement leadership has undertaken to support opening up of the political space, the opposition should come up with proposals on how to manage the transition and ensure that the 2006 electoral process is transparent, free and fair.
The mainstream opposition parties are currently bogged down in litigation connected to the Political Parties and Organisations Act (PPOA) and arguments over the ‘third term’. I share their concerns about the PPOA. I also know some, while trying to register the NRM as a party, have also discovered that the PPOA was flawed.
The Act was enacted at a time when the thinking within the Movement was to suffocate the rival political forces. Nevertheless, it would be constructive for the opposition to make specific proposals on overhauling the PPOA.
The public has been made to believe that the parties are opposed to the Act merely because they do not want to register. Government needs to come out with a blueprint for the transition.
Government is sending out mixed messages creating uncertainty, which hurts investments. Citizens and investors are now left guessing as to the country’s political direction.