Polls so far okay â€" AU team
Feb 21, 2006
DESPITE ‘isolated incidents’ of election violence, the overall election atmosphere for the 2006 elections guarantees a free and fair exercise, African Union (AU) observers have said.
By Cyprian Musoke
DESPITE ‘isolated incidents’ of election violence, the overall election atmosphere for the 2006 elections guarantees a free and fair exercise, African Union (AU) observers have said.
In a pre-election press briefing at Hotel Africana yesterday, team leader Victor Tonchi from Namibia said the incidents were not fundamental to prevent democracy from taking place.
“So far there are no negative elements that are supposed to impede the process. We are satisfied inasfar as the management of the Electoral Commission goes. According to what we are seeing, the process is on course as far as we understand elections,†he said.
Tonchi, who said they would be in Uganda up to March 2 to ensure that all election-related activities are done with, said if they had observed anything out of the ordinary, they would mention it to the public and the authorities.
“It is part of the process that if you see anything that impinges on the right of any candidate to be elected, we point at it and advise accordingly. But up to now, we think that everything is on course. There isn’t anything we think warrants the elections not taking place,†he said.
Group coordinator observers Abdoul Kouroma said every election has its ups and downs, and that some impediments need to be circumvented.
Ends
DESPITE ‘isolated incidents’ of election violence, the overall election atmosphere for the 2006 elections guarantees a free and fair exercise, African Union (AU) observers have said.
In a pre-election press briefing at Hotel Africana yesterday, team leader Victor Tonchi from Namibia said the incidents were not fundamental to prevent democracy from taking place.
“So far there are no negative elements that are supposed to impede the process. We are satisfied inasfar as the management of the Electoral Commission goes. According to what we are seeing, the process is on course as far as we understand elections,†he said.
Tonchi, who said they would be in Uganda up to March 2 to ensure that all election-related activities are done with, said if they had observed anything out of the ordinary, they would mention it to the public and the authorities.
“It is part of the process that if you see anything that impinges on the right of any candidate to be elected, we point at it and advise accordingly. But up to now, we think that everything is on course. There isn’t anything we think warrants the elections not taking place,†he said.
Group coordinator observers Abdoul Kouroma said every election has its ups and downs, and that some impediments need to be circumvented.
Ends