Conduct decent election
Dec 16, 2005
THE race for the next President of Uganda is now underway with six candidates competing. The race has been complicated by the remand of FDC challenger Kizza Besigye in Luzira on charges of treason and rape in the High Court and terrorism in the Court Martial.
THE race for the next President of Uganda is now underway with six candidates competing. The race has been complicated by the remand of FDC challenger Kizza Besigye in Luzira on charges of treason and rape in the High Court and terrorism in the Court Martial. This has left the state open to accusations that it is unfairly handicapping President Museveni’s main challenger.
Clearly Besigye cannot avoid the case in the High Court but the case should be heard as quickly as possible. The playing field should be levelled by dropping the Court Martial charges which impose double jeopardy. And if possible, Besigye should get bail so that he can campaign in the field. The Electoral Commission has been unfairly accused in some quarters of being partisan. Yet it has already demonstrated its independence by rejecting the recommendation of the Minister of Justice that Besigye should not be nominated since he is tainted by charges of treason, although not convicted.
The Electoral Commission should continue in this spirit and do everything possible to make the presidential election as free and fair as possible. The candidates should also do their best to make the election as decent as possible.
Let the candidates concentrate primarily on policy issues rather than mutual mudslinging, and let them urge their supporters to have mutual respect for each other.
In a democratic election, there have to be winners and losers but in the end we are all Ugandan citizens who have to respect, and be respected by, the new President. In this respect, the conduct of the election is more important than the eventual winner.
Ends
Clearly Besigye cannot avoid the case in the High Court but the case should be heard as quickly as possible. The playing field should be levelled by dropping the Court Martial charges which impose double jeopardy. And if possible, Besigye should get bail so that he can campaign in the field. The Electoral Commission has been unfairly accused in some quarters of being partisan. Yet it has already demonstrated its independence by rejecting the recommendation of the Minister of Justice that Besigye should not be nominated since he is tainted by charges of treason, although not convicted.
The Electoral Commission should continue in this spirit and do everything possible to make the presidential election as free and fair as possible. The candidates should also do their best to make the election as decent as possible.
Let the candidates concentrate primarily on policy issues rather than mutual mudslinging, and let them urge their supporters to have mutual respect for each other.
In a democratic election, there have to be winners and losers but in the end we are all Ugandan citizens who have to respect, and be respected by, the new President. In this respect, the conduct of the election is more important than the eventual winner.
Ends