NRM most active party - report

Feb 02, 2016

This is contained in a pre-election report of the Citizens Election Observers Network-Uganda, a coalition of organisations monitoring the country’s electoral process.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) is the most active party of all political parties in conducting presidential campaigns ahead of general elections, a report states.

This is contained in a pre-election report of the Citizens Election Observers Network-Uganda, a coalition of organisations monitoring the country's electoral process.

The report covers the period from November 2, 2015 to January 18, 2016, during which presidential and parliamentary nominations were held and candidates started their campaigns.

According to the report, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party is the second most active party, followed by the Go-Forward team of independent candidate, Amama Mbabazi.

The NRM party was also rated the most active party in conducting campaigns for parliamentary elections, followed by independent candidates, FDC, Democratic Party and Uganda Peoples Congress.

The report examines the integrity of the electoral process, with a focus on four main areas of voter information, campaigns time, violence and security, and structures for dialogue and among parties.

It is based on reports from election observers deployed at constituency level in all districts of Uganda. A total of 223 long term observers were deployed.

Campaign time

The report shows that candidates of FDC, Go Forward and NRM conducted campaigns after 6pm during the period under review.

"FDC campaigns after 6pm were mostly observed in Teso, followed by Lango and Kigezi. Go Forward campaigns after 6pm were mostly observed in Buganda, Kigezi and Bukedi. NRM campaigns conducted after 6pm were mostly observed in Acholi, Lango,  Bunyoro, and Teso," the report claims

Media  

On a positive note, the media made the highest contribution to voter information, followed by civil society and the Electoral Commission (EC).

The percentage of observers reporting voter information by the media ranged from 61% to 70%, civil society (35% to 45%) and the EC (26% to 31%), the report shows.  

According to the report, voter information by the media was most vibrant in Rwenzori region, followed by Buganda, Teso and Lango.

The percentage of observers reporting defaced FDC posters ranged from 9% to 21% during this period.   The percentage of observers reporting FDC defaced posters was highest in Bukedi, Teso and West Nile

Violence

The report shows that defacing of candidates' campaign posters is rampant across all political parties and remains a sign of violent conduct during the electoral period.

The election observers' report recommends reactivation of inter-party liaison committees at community, district and national levels.

It also proposes continuation of voter information to the electorate, especially as elections get closer and provision of equal facilitation to all parties to empower them conduct their campaigns.

The observers also recommend establishment of functional district election security committees in all districts and enforcement of the 6pm rule for campaigns across all parties.

 

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