Give us choppers too, or add campaigning days — Mafabi to EC

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Travelling on Uganda’s rural roads has become more than an inconvenience for Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi — it has turned into a daily struggle that slows his campaign.

At a press conference in Mbale on Wednesday (November 5), before heading to Tororo and Namisindwa districts on his 38th day of the 90-day campaign trail, Mafabi asked the Electoral Commission to level the playing field with President Museveni, who at times uses a helicopter to navigate impassable roads.

“Give us choppers or add campaigning days to enable us reach all corners of this country. We have had eight cars completely broken down due to poor and impassable roads. We have slept on the road two times, and this is a lot on us and an imbalance to the other candidates competing with Mr Museveni,” he said.

The FDC presidential hopeful painted a picture of days lost to breakdowns, vehicles abandoned in waterlogged tracks, and schedules repeatedly delayed by terrain that makes door-to-door and village-to-village campaigning nearly impossible.

Mafabi listed incidents that he said had cost the campaign dearly: stuck vehicles between Kotido and Kaabong, a waterlogged stretch between Pader and Agago that left the convoy stranded until supporters helped ferry people and goods, and a section around Kalongo and Patongo sub-county where five cars were lost to a flooded road.

He warned that the campaign timetable drawn up by the Electoral Commission does not reflect the state of the country’s infrastructure.

“We have a fixed period of time. We needed to really just take care of this; every presidential candidate should be given an electoral team to assess the logistical realities on the ground, not just to be in Kampala. Let them follow us everywhere we go so that they are informed on what really goes on,” he appealed to the EC.

Mafabi argued that if the head of state is allowed to fly to campaign stops, rival candidates should be granted the same privilege rather than being left stranded on impassable roads.

“The chopper President Museveni is using is not his; it’s a government property, but he is in this campaign as a candidate. If you have allowed him to use the property of the government, then all candidates should be given an opportunity,” he said.

Mafabi was on Tuesday, November 5, back in Eastern Uganda in both Namisindwa and Tororo districts, which he had visited earlier. He noted that there were places he had not reached previously and said he had agreed with the Electoral Commission to revisit these areas.

His plea comes after Parliament was last week informed that President Museveni is legally permitted to use government resources during campaigns.

Public service state minister Grace Mary Mugasa told MPs that under Section 27(2) of the Presidential Elections Act, the sitting president may continue to use facilities “ordinarily attached” to his office, including a presidential jet and helicopter.

The provision, Mugasa said, ensures continuity of presidential duties.