Opposition FDC calls off village elections
Aug 25, 2008
FDC has called off the village and district elections. The party spokesman, Wafula Oguttu, yesterday said the elections that were launched in Kampala recently were meant to be rolled out in other districts on August 30 in preparation for the national delegates’ conference.
By Charles Ariko
FDC has called off the village and district elections. The party spokesman, Wafula Oguttu, yesterday said the elections that were launched in Kampala recently were meant to be rolled out in other districts on August 30 in preparation for the national delegates’ conference.
However, they were called off because some people had made unofficial announcements over FM radio stations indicating dates that were not set by the party, leading to a low turn-up of voters in Kampala.
“There were a lot of shortcomings in the elections in Kampala. A lot of confusing messages were sent out and several announcements made over various FM radios stations. This confused some of our members,†Oguttu said during the party’s weekly press briefing in Kampala.
Oguttu added that the party’s election rules were flouted in some divisions, therefore, the exercise would be repeated.
“We discovered that some elections were carried out without our election agents.
“ In some areas, they were carried out following the village system, contrary to our constitution, which says we have to elect using the polling area branch, which is the smallest (electorate) unit,†Oguttu said.
Oguttu said the elections would be repeated next month, including in Rubaga Division, where the exercise was suspended following the party’s fallout with the area MP, Beti Kamya.
He added that the party executive would communicate the new date for the elections.
On reports that FDC members in Teso sub-region defected to NRM during President Yoweri Museveni’s tour of the region last week, he said: “The only person we know (that he crossed over to NRM) is the deputy speaker of Kumi town council.
“Museveni is being fooled by his own people. Did they give him FDC cards to show that they were our members?†Oguttu asked.
FDC has called off the village and district elections. The party spokesman, Wafula Oguttu, yesterday said the elections that were launched in Kampala recently were meant to be rolled out in other districts on August 30 in preparation for the national delegates’ conference.
However, they were called off because some people had made unofficial announcements over FM radio stations indicating dates that were not set by the party, leading to a low turn-up of voters in Kampala.
“There were a lot of shortcomings in the elections in Kampala. A lot of confusing messages were sent out and several announcements made over various FM radios stations. This confused some of our members,†Oguttu said during the party’s weekly press briefing in Kampala.
Oguttu added that the party’s election rules were flouted in some divisions, therefore, the exercise would be repeated.
“We discovered that some elections were carried out without our election agents.
“ In some areas, they were carried out following the village system, contrary to our constitution, which says we have to elect using the polling area branch, which is the smallest (electorate) unit,†Oguttu said.
Oguttu said the elections would be repeated next month, including in Rubaga Division, where the exercise was suspended following the party’s fallout with the area MP, Beti Kamya.
He added that the party executive would communicate the new date for the elections.
On reports that FDC members in Teso sub-region defected to NRM during President Yoweri Museveni’s tour of the region last week, he said: “The only person we know (that he crossed over to NRM) is the deputy speaker of Kumi town council.
“Museveni is being fooled by his own people. Did they give him FDC cards to show that they were our members?†Oguttu asked.